Newest articles on The Sacramento Press tagged as "cesar chavez plaza"

City attorney drops Occupy arrest charges

2011-11-17T00:59:28Z

The City Attorney’s office released a statement Wednesday saying charges against some of the people arrested for violating park curfew hours at Cesar Chavez Plaza will be dropped and the cases dismissed “in the interest of justice.”

City Attorney Eileen Teichet said in a press release that a limited number of cases against people charged with only one violation of the city code would be dismissed.

“After evaluating the facts of each case and criminal history of each defendant,” Teichert said in the press release, “the City Attorney’s office has determined that the arrest and jail time that each dismissed defendant served achieved the People of the State of California’s demand for substantial justice.”

Eighty-four people have been arrested since Oct. 6, when Occupy Sacramento began protesting in Cesar Chavez Plaza, and some of them have been arrested multiple times.

According to the statement, the City Attorney’s office will continue to prosecute defendants charged with multiple violations of the City Code related to violations of park curfew at Cesar Chavez Plaza.

Local civil rights attorney Mark Merin filed a lawsuit Nov. 1 in federal court on behalf of Occupy Sacramento, claiming the city has violated protesters’ First Amendment rights by interfering with the group’s freedom of assembly and freedom of speech.

A Jan. 5 hearing is scheduled on the lawsuit in federal court.

In a similar court case, the New York Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that protesters' First Amendment rights did not extend to allowing "tents, structures, generators and other installations" in Zuccotti Park while protesting.

Attorneys for Occupy Sacramento were not immediately available for comment.

Melissa Corker is a Staff Reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @MelissaCorker.

Occupy Sacramento: Voices of the protesters

2011-10-19T06:59:12Z

The Sacramento Press asked Occupy Sacramento protesters at Cesar Chavez Plaza Tuesday, "What brought you out here, and what would you like to see happen over the next days and weeks?"

Here is what they had to say:

Hilary Brumley:

Sandra Delgadillo:

Christopher MacDonald:

Naba Kadel:

Videos by Brandon Darnell

Occupy Midtown Sacramento a pictorial

2011-10-18T04:41:30Z

Several hundred people showed up to this weekend's Midtown Modern Arts Festival. The event took place on 20th Street between J & K and was enjoyed by children and adults.

Various performances included the Sacramento Ballet, Capital Stage Company, The Sacramento Philharmonic, B Street Theatre, Sacramento Comedy Spot, the Harley White Jr. Orchestra and other acts. Over a dozen arts and performing organizations had stations set up to give those in attendance information about the many art programs offered in Sacramento and surrounding areas.

Several demonstration tables also allowed visitors, mostly children, the opportunity to participate in arts, music and crafts set up by various organizations.

The Midtown Modern Arts Festival achieved their main objective for the event, "The goal of the festival is to create a venue for Midtown to show off what it does best, Art!"

The free event was held under ideal weather conditions. Families enjoyed the festival and meeting new friends.

Cesar Chavez Plaza continues to be the site for "Occupy Sacramento" demonstrations. No matter what side of the fence you sit on this issue Occupy Sacramento is an ideal place to go for a lesson in Civics, Democracy and the American way.

Each day Occupy Sacramento publishes a list of events for the day and a General Assembly is held on a regular basis to go over the agenda, discuss any issues and vote on these if necessary.

Those who have occupied Chavez Plaza located at 910 I Street have been doing so in solidarity with Occupy Wall Street which has now gone global. Many in the Occupy movement face being arrested and are willing to put up with the possibility.

On my short visit to Occupy Sacramento I was able to witness several of our rights we have, as American citizens, including free assembly, free association, free speech and the right to vote.

Occupy Sacramento continues after 20 protesters arrested

2011-10-07T23:50:31Z

Authorities said 20 protesters were arrested at about 12:45 a.m. Friday when they refused to leave Cesar Chavez Plaza, the site of the Occupy Sacramento demonstration.

Both police and protesters described the arrests as peaceful.

“They went without any problems or issues,” said Sgt. Andrew Pettit, spokesman for the Sacramento Police Department. “They were booked for failure to disperse after a lawful order.”

Anthony Bondi, a spokesman for Occupy Sacramento, agreed.

“It was completely violence-free,” he said Friday afternoon. “The protesters laid down and chose to be arrested.”

Despite what some protesters said they think was an overbearing police presence, Pettit said units involved were either on patrol already or “flexed” their hours to take part in the arrests.

“We had two SWAT teams, the entertainment team and three graveyard teams,” he said, noting that about 40 officers were involved.

The entertainment team is a unit that normally deals with drunken driving and enforcement of laws associated with entertainment venues such as nightclubs, he added.

The protesters who were arrested were booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail, and Bondi said supporters marched to the jail Friday morning.

“Everyone is out now,” he said. “A couple have come back (to Cesar Chavez Plaza).”

Officers making arrests donned riot helmets, which Bondi said seemed excessive.

“I do believe that the police were a little bit overkill with the riot gear,” he said. “I mean, you can’t get less violent and more peaceful than (the demonstrators) were.”

Pettit acknowledged the nonviolent nature of those arrested but said wearing the gear is a standard procedure to ensure the officers are protected in case the situation turns violent.

“It was a precautionary measure,” he said. “They were nonviolent, but it’s to protect our officers in case someone else comes in and gets aggressive.”

He added that officers carry their riot gear in their vehicles at all times, so no specialized units needed to be called in.

The occupation has been in place since Thursday morning, when Sacramentans took part in the nationwide trend.

One of the common questions raised by those observing the occupation has been what the activists’ objective is – and that’s a question the activists themselves are pondering.

“The general consensus here – and I know it’s incredibly broad and vague – is change,” Bondi said. “Even in the Wall Street protests, over a week or two, there was no definitive list of demands.”

Bondi described Occupy Sacramento as a democracy where no one person is a leader, and objectives are being worked out.

“We’re trying to get more organized at this point,” he said. “I just hope people stick with us.”

Pettit said police will continue to enforce the city’s listed park hours and “no camping” ordinance.

“We are anticipating to stay there and do the same thing again,” he said. “We’ll see if the same people want to be arrested. It’s up to them. Our primary concern is keeping the peace.”

Brandon Darnell is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow him on Twitter @Brandon_Darnell.

Friday Night Concert in the Park: see The Nibblers here

2011-07-07T21:42:44Z

Friday night’s concert in the park at Cesar Chavez Plaza features R and B, funk and soul from local sensations The Nibblers. Supporting the headliners will be sets from The Gerald Isaac Pease Combo and The Bellboys.

This week’s show kicks off at around 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

If you can’t make the show, The Sacramento Press will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found in this article on the day of the show.

Located between Ninth and 10th and I and J streets, this free, all-ages outdoor concert series will run every Friday until Aug. 12. See a full schedule of this season’s lineup here

In its 20th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park attracts huge crowds of music lovers from all walks of life. Bring the whole family and enjoy fantastic live music, delicious food stands and some of the best people-watching in town. The ever-popular beer garden features local brews and old favorites.

Stop by the Sacramento Press booth, get a balloon for the kids and sign up for our weekly newsletter and weekly local events page, Go.See.Do. You can even rent a blanket to lounge on the lawn while you watch the bands. All blanket rental proceeds will be donated to charity.

To avoid hunting for a spot or parking blocks away from the all the fun, parking is available at the City Hall Garage (10th and I) for $5 after 5 p.m.

Come by and check out the festivities!

Free live streaming by Ustream

Friday Night Concert in the Park: watch Mumbo Gumbo here

2011-06-23T16:26:59Z

Now that summer is finally in full swing, join The Sacramento Press at Cesar Chavez Plaza for Friday Night Concerts in the Park.

Los Blazing Hangovers will open the evening with zesty Latin honky-tonk. Headliners and longtime Northern California favorites, Mumbo Gumbo blend the flavors of Cajun, zydeco, blues, folk and good old rock and roll to create the unique of form of Americana that has kept crowds dancing for 20 years.

This week’s show kicks off at around 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

Located between Ninth and 10th and I and J streets, this free, all-ages outdoor concert series will run every Friday until Aug. 12. See a full schedule of this season’s lineup here.

Street parking can be a challenge for this Friday night music favorite. To avoid hunting for a spot or parking blocks away from the all the fun, parking is available at the City Hall Garage (10th and I) for $5 after 5 p.m.

In its 20th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park attracts huge crowds of music lovers from all walks of life. Bring the whole family and enjoy a summer evening full of FREE and fantastic live music, interesting vendors, delicious food stands and some of the best people-watching of the season. The ever-popular beer garden has been expanded for this concert season. Stop by after work and sample a local brew or an old favorite.

This year, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership has launched a new SCVNGR Trek for Concerts in the Park. Download the SCVNGR app before you head out to the show so you can play the “Friday Night Concerts” trek. Complete the challenges to earn points all season long for a chance to win prizes each week.

If you can’t make the show, The Sacramento Press will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found in this article on the day of the show:

Come by and check out the festivities!

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Friday Night Concert in the Park, see Debora Iyall here

2011-06-16T16:06:53Z

Join fellow music lovers and The Sacramento Press at Cesar Chavez Plaza for Friday Night Concert in the Park

This week’s show kicks off at around 5 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m.

The action starts with glam rock and Brit pop influenced Breaking Glass, followed by popular Sacramento alt rock duo The Generals, then a set by the indescribable chamber rock ensemble Exquisite Corpse. Headlining the evening is dynamic solo artist Debora Iyall, former lead singer of new wave innovaters Romeo Void.

Located between Ninth and 10th and I and J streets, this free, all-ages outdoor concert series will run every Friday until Aug. 12. See a full schedule of this season’s lineup here.

Remember, street parking can be a challenge. If you want to avoid hunting for a spot or parking blocks away from the action, parking is available at the City Hall Garage (10th and I) for $5 after 5 p.m.

In it’s 20th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park remains the best way to start off our warm summer weekends and showcase Sacramento’s vibrant music scene.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park attracts huge crowds of music lovers from all walks of life. Bring the whole family and enjoy an inexpensive summer evening full of fantastic live music, interesting vendors and delicious food stands. The ever-popular beer garden provides some of the best people-watching of the summer season.

To add to the fun, the Downtown Sacramento Partnership has launched a new SCVNGR Trek for the Concerts in the Park. Download the SCVNGR app before you head out to the show so you can play the “Friday Night Concerts” trek. Complete the challenges to earn points all season long for a chance to win prizes each week.

Stop by the Sacramento Press booth and sign up for our weekly newsletter and weekly local events page, Go.See.Do. You can even rent a blanket to sit on while you watch the bands. All blanket rental proceeds will be donated to charity.

If you can’t make the show, The Sacramento Press will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found in this article on the day of the show:

Come by and check out the festivities!

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Musical Charis Opens the 2011 Hot Lunch Concert Series

2011-06-04T00:13:13Z

On Thursday, June 2, Sacramento saw the start of another year of the Hot Lunch Concert Series and a new free music event playing at Cesar Chavez Plaza; “Fiesta en la Calle” (Street Party).

The Hot Lunch Concert Series is a collaboration between Hot Italian, Sacramento News and Review and Friends of Fremont Park. Musical guests perform on Thursdays from June 2 to September 1 during the lunch hour (11:30 to 1p.m). Promoter Jerry Perry has put together a great lineup. Fremont Park, located on the corner of 16th and P Streets hosts the event.

Musical Charis was the first band scheduled to perform this year. The weather cooperated and made for a delightful lunch concert. People from around the area brought their lunch or took advantage of being across the street from Hot Italian and ordered their lunch from there.

Musical Charis had already begun their set when I got there and about 100 people or so where sitting in front of the stage. Children were running around enjoying the outdoors on a mostly sunny time of the day.

Locals and others enjoyed the music and company of neighbors and friends. Andrea Lepore, co-owner of Hot Italian took a little time to listen to the band and chatted with Jerry Perry and Tais’ immediate family.

I noticed two outdoor booths from two partners of the concert series; Metro PCS and Sacramento News and Review. Other partners for the concerts include CADA, Yelp, Midtown Business Association and the Sacramento Press.

Blake Abbey from Musical Charis at one point reminded the audience that the Hot Lunch Concerts will be held at Fremont Park. He also mentioned that Concerts in the Park is being held on Fridays at the Cesar Chavez Plaza. Both concert events are free and suited for music fans of all ages.

As they finished playing “Forward”, Abbey said they were going to be playing a few more songs and then a couple of kids from their musical school were going to perform. Musical Charis not only performs but also runs the Musical Charis School for Music. They offer a wide range of music programs including private music lessons, Music 4 Tots (for kids age 5 and below), song writing workshops, vocal boot-camp, recording sessions, recitals and more.

“Anatomy” from their 2009 Electra City Church Bells EP followed as they continued to play in front of the Fremont Park audience.

A harmonica intro started off “Tell Me” from their People People CD. A great mixture of guitar, bass, keyboards, harmonica, tambourines and congas created a great sound as Musical Charis played their set especially when they played their rendition of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

“I Candy” was introduced by Abbey saying, “This song is about the over abundance of bands that moved to L.A. to try to make it but they ran out of make up so they didn’t make it.”

“We’ve been teaching music classes for about two and a half years in Sacramento. We started in Oak Park but we’re now located at the K Street Mall by the food courts. So if anybody has kids or adults that want to learn how to play music, first lesson is always free, and we’re really nice people on the weekends, and on the weekdays too.” said Abbey as he introduced Shawn and Bradley.

Their first song selection included a great acoustic guitar intro as a Sarah Teasdale poem was made into a song. They followed up with “For Sale” and ended their short set.

Musical Charis came back after their short break and played “Passport”, "Catwalk", "Fish" and "Heavy".

Back on the microphone Abbey said, "Promote local music and local art here in Sacramento. It’s a great place for it and encourage the economy to improve by buying some Hot Italian. Thank you again, thank you Jerry Perry, thank you Hot Italian and thanks to all of you."

Musical Charis ended their set with one of their signature songs “The Life”. As people left you could hear a couple of them whistling that same tune. Musical Charis will next perform on June 4th at the Second Annual "Art Happens" benefit event at the Sacramento Arts Complex located at 2110 K Street.

This was a great kick-off to the Hot Lunch Concert Series. If you plan to attend one of the concerts, you can call Hot Italian at 444-3000 and order any pizza and pick it up before going to the park. You can also get the Hot Lunch (a panini or insalata + a drink for only $10, tax included). Below is the schedule for the rest of the season.

2011 HOT LUNCH Line Up
6/2 – Musical Charis
6/9 – The Bell Boys
6/16 - Walking Spanish
6/23 – Richard March
6/30 – Kepi Acoustic with Dog Party Acoustic
7/7 - Shannon Curtis
7/14 – Gerald Pease Combo
7/21 – Island of Black and White
7/28 – Exquisite Corps
8/4 – The Freebadge Serenaders
8/11 – KB & The Slingtones
8/18 – The Nickel Slots
8/25 – Gillian Underwood
9/1 – Larrisa Bryski & Willie Seltzer

Tonight's Concert in the Park cancelled (yep, rain)

2011-06-03T18:35:44Z

Just to maintain a little perspective - while our "summer" weather thus far has been a little abnormal and certainly not conducive to our usual late Spring ballyhoo , we really can't complain that much, can we?

That said, the unseasonably late rains of 2011 have claimed another victim, and it is tonight's Friday Night Concert in the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza, which has been cancelled due to inclimate weather, according to a news release from Downtown Sacramento Partnership.

Fear not, revelers! Tonight's bill, which was to feature venerable local festival act Mick Martin & the Blues Rockers, Tess & the Hip Trash and Kyle Rowland, has been rescheduled for Friday, August 19. That just means one more Concert in the Park at the tail end of the season.

Need some alternative indoor fun that doesn't involve a fireplace and a game of Scrabble? Ann Freeman-Clement has you covered with Sacramento Concerts, Music Events and the Local Music Scene.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park returns next week with a humdinger of a lineup that includes local breakouts Walking Spanish, Nicki Bluhm & the Gramblers, and Honyock.

Friday Night Concert in the Park, watch Agent Ribbons here

2011-05-19T00:35:40Z

The weather forecast is positive for this Friday Night Concert in the Park.

Join The Sacramento Press at Cesar Chavez Plaza for an eclectic evening of indie music with a visit from headliners Agent Ribbons, former Sacramento girls.

This week’s show kicks off at around 5 p.m., runs until 9 p.m. and will also feature sets from Roman Funerals and Golden Ghosts.

Located between Ninth and 10th and I and J streets, this free, all-ages outdoor concert series will run every Friday until Aug. 12. See a full schedule of this season’s lineup here.

In it’s 20th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park remains the best way to start off our warm summer weekends and showcase Sacramento’s vibrant music scene.

Stop by the Sacramento Press booth and pick up a free balloon for the kids, sign up for our weekly newsletter and weekly events local page Go.See.Do. You can even rent a blanket to sit on while you watch the bands. All blanket rental proceeds will be donated to charity.

If you can’t make the show, The Sacramento Press will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found in this article on the day of the show:

Come by and check out all the fun!

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Rock & Roll Tour and Pub Crawl

2011-05-09T09:54:54Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) conducts several walking Tours in the downtown area. The walking tours introduce visitors to people, places and events that have created California history. DSP’s mission is to establish downtown Sacramento as a vibrant business, cultural and entertainment destination in Sacramento via private and public partnerships consisting of residents, visitors and investors. This Friday they conducted a Rock & Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl.

The tour began at the corner of 9th and J Streets at one of the entrances to the Concerts in the Park held at Cesar Chavez Plaza. The walk began at 6 in the evening. By this time, Wahnder Lust had begun their set at the first Concerts in the Park event. This year marks the 20th year anniversity of Concerts in the Park and Jerry Perry has been promoting the event for the past 15 years.

The series of walks around downtown Sacramento being offered includes one especially for kids, a Speakeasy tour, a Sacramento architecture and art tour as well as the Rock & Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl. It's a walk that explores the history of Sacramento’s music scene. This tour is still being developed but it will run every Friday until the end of May. The day of the tour may or may not change after that depending on how it develops.

The tour guide for the walk is Shawn Peter who’s been with DSP since 2000. John, who also works for DSP, was on hand for the tour as well. Shawn has been part of the Downtown Walking Tour Program since its inception. Besides his vast knowledge of Sacramento’s Gold Rush-era and historical architecture styles, Shawn is well versed in music and is a member of a band named Single Second. His music knowledge of Sacramento and bands who have played here allow him to discuss many genres and time periods of music. During the tour, performers such as Frank Sinatra, the Beach Boys, the Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Beastie Boys, Tesla, and many others are discussed and how they fit in the Sacramento music scene.

As we started the walking tour Shawn began by saying, “A lot of people seem to think Sacramento is a really boring town where nothing really happens. You know what? It’s quite the opposite really.” Shawn’s personal knowledge of the Sacramento music scene is immense and through the walk it was apparent that this would be an educational and fun walk as we departed from the corner of 9th and J streets.

Shawn talked about the two radio stations that started the music scene in Sacramento. One of the stations was KBFK who Shawn said had a house band that ended up playing for many of the touring acts that came through town including Frank Sinatra, Jack Benny and others. Shawn was very enthusiastic while relating this and other stories.

As we walked down J Street away from 9th we could still hear Wahnder Lust as they continued their set. Shawn related that the other local station that helped the Sacramento music scene was KROY. KFBK and KROY were basically the only two stations, both AM stations, that played popular music. Shaw continued and passed on information spanning the 1920’s to the 50’s and the places where the bands played.

The tour becomes alive with Shawn’s storytelling as he relates stories that helped create the history of rock music in Sacramento and everywhere else. His stories were so intriguing that I feel like I should relay them to the reader in this article but the best part of the tour is the exchange of questions and stories. You kind of have to experience the tour yourself to get the most from it.

As Shawn talked about rock artists we were able to exchange stories about the artists who came from Sacramento as well as those who visited our town. These exchanges during the walk become meaningful as everyone was able to relate to the subject. We talked about the bands that visited Sacramento and the bands that could attribute their success to Sacramento.

The Memorial Auditorium has been one of the primary venues for bands coming through town and if you have a friend that loves music you’ve probably heard of a story about a band that played at the Memorial. How about you, do you have a memory of attending a musical event at the Memorial that left a lasting impression? One of my first recollections of the Memorial was taking a couple of my kids to go see Offspring and Cypress Hill at a show and seeing Scott Pollard while he was the Sacramento Kings at the concert. I’m sure many readers have a memory of their first concert in Sacramento or one that’s memorable.

KZAP, as Shawn tells it, was one of the first Sacramento FM stations and their original station was located within the Elks Tower on 11th and J. At the time KZAP had a free form format where they played everything from Frank Sinatra to Frank Zappa.

As the walk continued on J Street we turned left on 15th. The Memorial Auditorium was on one side of the street and since this is called a Rock and Roll Tour and Pub Crawl, Shawn talked a little about the Torch Club as we entered the first pub of the evening to enjoy a drink.

Shawn talked about Tesla, the Deftones, Cake and other Sacramento area bands. After the Torch Club, we passed by other venues that have moved to their current site from another part of town. Some of these clubs were the Capitol Garage, the Torch Club and others,

Other venues that have hosted music events were the Cattle Club, Lush, Cal Expo, ARCO, the Convention Center, Tower Records, the Crest Theatre and St. Paul's Church among others. Many of the clubs have a rich music venue history that continues to this day. We also discussed the new clubs that have recently opened and host music venues.

A couple of more pubs were visited and many other rock and roll stories were told. As we winded down the tour we talked about how the walk could be improved as well as what can be left out of the tour. The music scene from the 20’s to present came to light as we talked about Sacramento and music during the tour.

It turns out that there's a lot of history in the few blocks that we walked. Shawn Peter was a great guide and is very knowledgeable about the local music scene. He has over 25 years playing music and says that he does about 100 shows a year with his band.

As we came back to Cesar Chavez Park it was apparent how much fun these type of tour/walks can be. It's also a great way of meeting people and getting to know the downtown area as well as some of its pubs.

This tour takes place each Friday evening during the Friday Night Concerts in the Park season and it's scheduled to run from May 6 thru August 12, 2011. Guests must pre-purchase tickets via Event Brite to secure their place in the tour. The tour lasts approximately 2 hours and participants must be 21 years of age or older. Ticket prices does not include the cost of drinks.

Once back at Concerts in the Park there was still time to enjoy more live music. The tour was scheduled to end in time for the headline act and that was the case. Aaron King & The Imperials had already performed and a young lady by the name of Gabriela was playing when we returned to Cesar Chavez Plaza. Gabriela wasn’t on the schedule and after she finished her set the Tattoo Love Dogs came on stage to end the first day of Concerts in the Park for 2011.

Log on to the Downtown Sacramento Partnership website to view other tours and walks being offered as well as to purchase tickets for the Rock and Roll History Tour and Pub Crawl.

Farmers market tours tout fresh and local

2011-05-05T01:25:46Z

Foodies were out in full force Wednesday when executive chef Michael Tuohy of Grange Restaurant & Bar kicked off his personalized farmers market tours for the season.

Follow The Chef tours are led each week at the farmers market in downtown’s Cesar Chavez Plaza, across from the restaurant at 926 J St. The markets – and the tours – run from May through October.

A wet winter has delayed some crops, including certain stone fruits. But Tuohy and Grange Executive Sous Chef Brad Cecchi found strawberries, asparagus, snap peas and more when they took 11 people there in the morning.

Tuohy started the tours two years ago to inspire Sacramentans to buy locally at farmers markets and to help bring the community together through a shared love of good, fresh food. He also wanted to connect the restaurant and the market, which he describes as a downtown "jewel" just steps away from Grange's front door.

"It's the next-best thing to having your own farm or garden right outside," he said.

The tour wound through the market. Wearing a white chef's jacket and brown rubber mud shoes, Tuohy walked from stand to stand. He discussed the benefits of California's long growing seasons and pointed out good finds such as small green pattypan summer squashes, Chandler strawberries, Medjool dates and Bariani olive oil.

Tuohy also discussed buying local and organic goods. While he prefers to buy organic food, Tuohy said his first criteria is always quality. He'll buy non-organic produce that has a higher quality than organic produce.

Talking to people behind the farm stands, the group learned not all of the products were as local as others. Some produce is trucked in from as far away as San Diego and Imperial County in far southeastern California.

The group included food bloggers Amber Stott of Awake at the Whisk, Dawn Balzarano of Kitchen Travels and Bree Hester of Baked Bree. Using shopping bags provided by Grange, participants bought goods at the market to take home.

The group then returned to the restaurant. A long wooden table set for lunch awaited.

Tuohy and Cecchi disappeared into the kitchen. They reappeared to deliver and explain each dish in a three-course meal.

Salad was made with sugar snap peas and asparagus from the market, plus fava beans and Bellwether Farms Pepato sheep's milk cheese, finished with Bariani olive oil, lemon and mint.

The main course featured a large Baja California scallop on a bed of risotto with sugar snap peas and shelled English peas.

Berries from the market were used in a strawberry-rhubarb butter tart with whipped cream for dessert.

Tours start at Grange Restaurant & Bar each Wednesday at 11 a.m. Tours cost $39 per person, which includes wine and lunch, and are limited to 15. Reservations can be made at 492-4450.

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

Zipcar attracts car-sharing fans

2011-04-08T01:26:35Z

Mary Beth Schwehr was already well-informed about car sharing when she stopped by the Zipcar tent at Cesar Chavez Plaza on Thursday.

Zipcar, a company that provides cars for people to use for short periods of time, has been operating in Sacramento for a little over a week. Company representatives were in Sacramento on Thursday to sign up customers.

Schwehr, a Sacramento County resident, said she has an older car but uses public transit to commute to work.

“I’ve been anxious for this to come to Sacramento for a long time,” Schwehr said. “Rather than having to drive my car on a day when I have some other errands that I have to do where transit doesn’t go, I’ll use the Zipcar at lunchtime and after work ... to do some errands.”

Rachel DuBose, an air quality planner for the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality District, also checked out Zipcar’s tent Thursday.

“At the air district, we really believe in getting our employees to walk and bike and ride share,” she said.

A one-year membership fee to use Zipcars in Sacramento is $50. The application fee is $25.

From Monday through Friday, the charge to use a Zipcar is $8 per hour or $66 per day, according to Dan Grossman, the company’s regional vice president. On Saturdays and Sundays, the cost is $9 per hour or $72 per day. The hourly and daily fees are on top of the membership fee.

The membership fee includes the car insurance, Grossman said. Customers pay for gas by using a charge card provided by Zipcar.

Zipcar, which formed in 2000, operates in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The company has 530,000 members and 8,000 cars.

Grossman said he couldn’t comment on the number of Zipcar customers who have signed up in Sacramento.

Zipcar representatives parked a Honda Insight car at Cesar Chavez Plaza to demonstrate to prospective customers how the car works.

To use a Zipcar, a member makes a reservation online or by phone. Grossman held a card over a built-in modem attached to the window of the Honda. The card unlocks the door, he said, and the customer can find the ignition key inside. The cards to unlock the Zipcars are given to members, according to Grossman.

City Councilman Steve Cohn joined the small group of people at the Zipcar tent, saying that he and the Sacramento Air Quality Management District had both advocated for a car-sharing program in Sacramento.

“What this does is it enables people that have that occasional need (to drive) not to have to invest in a very expensive car, insurance (and) all the upkeep,” he said.

Cohn said the city is now contracting with Zipcar in an effort to save costs on the city’s vehicle fleet. The city wants to scale down the number of vehicles it owns and maintains, he said. To save money on city fleet expenses, the city agreed to use Zipcar services, Cohn added.

The city also gave Zipcar the use of 10 city parking spaces, he said.

Read the list of downtown locations where Zipcars will be available.

Kathleen Haley is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park schedule released

2011-04-05T23:27:19Z

Things to count your blessings for in Sacramento:

1. The best that the local music scene has to offer, all played free.

2. A giant beer garden that features the best people watching to be found anywhere in town.

3. The fact that we have now finally gotten to the point where, when people say "we're going to the park tonight," no one asks "you mean the Park Ultra Lounge?" anymore.

Downtown Sacramento Partnership has unveiled the lineup for what is and has always been "the park" in this town, the Friday Night Concerts in the Park series, which has been packing thousands into Cesar Chavez Plaza every Friday summer evening for the last 20 seasons. The series begins Friday, May 6 and runs through August 12.

If you were a patron last year, you probably noticed that the beer garden area is overall much larger, which means shorter lines (woohoo!!) and more room to roam. Concurrently, it was noticable that the sound volume and quality was remarkably better in the ol' beer garden last year, correcting what had always been one of the series' biggest things to quibble over (there isn't much else to complain about).

Hey, we hooch goblins like hearing the music, too...despite all the "OMGs" and ancillary chatter you hear in there.

This year's lineup, courtesy again of long time local promoter Jerry Perry, features the usual "them agains" and a hefty stock of "who deys" with an advertised 29 first time performers and six new headliners, including funk jockeys the Nibblers, rock juggernauts Prieta, and the about to go "KABOOM" Walking Spanish.

Perennial headliners include Rick Estrin & the Nightcats, Mumbo Gumbo, and (gotta have em!) the Brodys.

While the series always features all local acts, I've only seen two "cheats" so far: Nicki Bluhm, who resides in San Francisco (but is just too good to ignore), and Agent Ribbons, which currently resides in Austin, TX - but we'll welcome them home with open arms any time.

As began last year, the Downtown Sac Partnership will offer their "Locally Grown, Internationally Known" walking tour that offers a glimpse of the history of live music in Sacramento before each concert, and there are tons of food and drink specials around the neighborhood if you can avoid tearing off that CIP wristband. Details on both are here.

Here is the full lineup for the summer. See y'all at Cesar Chavez...I'll be the guy answering the "who is this band" questions. Hey, DSP, can I get a booth and an "Answer Man" name tag? (OK, I just want beer tickets)

May 6

The Tattooed Love Dogs

Aaron King & The Imperials

Wahnderlust*

May 13

The Golden Cadillacs

Keri Carr*

Miss Lonely Hearts*

May 20

Agent Ribbons

Roman Funerals*

Golden Ghosts*

The Dreaded Diamond*

May 27

Rick Estrin & The Nightcats

The Freebadge Serenaders*

The Afterlife*

June 3

Mick Martin & The Blues Rockers

Tess and Hip Trash*

The Kyle Rowland Band*

June 10

Walking Spanish(*)

Nikki Bluhm*

Island Of Black And White*

Honyock*

June 17

Debora Iyall(*)*

Exquisite Corps*

The Generals

Breaking Glass*

June 24

Mumbo Gumbo

Los Blazing Hangovers

July 1

Kepi Ghoulie Electric

Pets

Dog Party

The Favors*

July 8

The Nibblers(*)

Gerald Pease Combo

The Bell Boys* with James Cavern* and Jesi Naomi*

July 15

The Nickel Slots CD Release(*)

Whiskey & Stitches

Bright Faces*

July 22

Prieta(*)

The Kelps

The Denver Piledrivers*

Jet Black Popes*

July 29

Lite Brite

Mondo Deco*

Simpl3Jack

Jem & Scout*

August 5

Musical Charis (*)

Be Brave Bold Robot*

Adrian Bourgeois

San Kazagaskar*

August 12

The Brodys

Automatic Rival*

A Single Second* CD Release

*29 first time acts
(*) 6 first time headliners

American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music

2011-03-27T20:16:39Z

The Sacramento Public Library, located at 828 I Street, will host an exhibition by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibition titled “American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music” highlights the contributions of Latinos in American music and will be on exhibition from May 25 to August 7, 2011.

American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music is a creation by Experience Music Project (EMP) and organized for travel by SITES. The exhibition, its national tour and related programs are made possible by Ford Motor Company Fund.

A luncheon preview event was held at the Sacramento Public Library on Thursday to introduce the exhibition. Representatives from SITES, Sacramento Public Library, Ford, Congresswoman Doris Matsui and other community leaders were on hand to introduce the exhibit partake in the festivities.

The Smithsonian traveling exhibition highlights the musical contribution of Latinos from the 1940s to present. The individual creativity of stars such as Tito Puente, Ritchie Valens, Celia Cruz, Selena, Carlos Santana and many others are highlighted.

The exhibition is a collaborative effort by the SITES, the Experience Music Project (EMP) and Ford Motor Company. This exhibition was developed by the Experience Music Project and SITES. The Ford Motor Company Fund, the philanthropic division of Ford Motor Company makes this exhibition possible and will be on tour for the next 4 years.

The exhibition will be free for viewing at the Central Library. The exhibit will visit San Francisco after its stay in Sacramento. Detroit, Dallas, Chicago, Charlotte, Los Angeles and Kansas City are also part of the tour.

American Sabor highlights the innovations in various musical genres by Latinos. Five major centers of Latino popular music production; Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Antonio, New York and Miami are also highlighted. A website complements the exhibition and was recently completed.

Sabor in English means taste, savor or flavor and is commonly used to describe good music. If you listen to Santana’s Oye Como Va, it’s the first spoken word uttered as the song starts. I’ve always enjoyed that song and it was the first thing that came to mind when I heard about this exhibit. That particular song, in several variations, has been around since the 1940s and not all versions start the same way.

At the luncheon I had the opportunity to speak with Lynn M. Quigley, Manager, Community Relations for Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. I asked for information on her involvement and that of the Ford Motor Company in the American Sabor exhibit.

Lynn started by saying, “The Ford Motor Company Fund is the national sponsor of American Sabor which is going to be visiting 12 cities around the country. It’s an exhibition that looks at the impact of contributions from Latino musicians in post World War II and five cities in particular; New York, Miami, San Antonio, San Francisco and L.A. The exhibition has panels that look at each of those cities and what was going on in those cities at the time.”

She continued, “We have a fully interactive web site which we’re going to demonstrate here today. It just launched yesterday.” Lynn went on to talk about other aspects of the exhibition. She noted that some interesting programming will also take place at the library such as having performers during certain hours on certain days. A dance floor will also be integral part of the exhibit. I couldn’t help but take note that something like that can be happening at the library, but it is.

I asked if the venue was meant for adults, children or both. Lynn went on to say, “It’s really family related for all age levels. There’s an education section on the website that has teacher guides and lesson plans. There’s a lot to it.” She went on to say that there’s also a Music Mixer on site to experiment with the different sounds made by instruments, “That’s something kids will like as well.” Lynn said.

“It’s almost like this music just makes you want to move. I don’t care what your age is. When we were setting up the tables we were kind of dancing around a little. The exhibit opens May 25 and runs until August 7.” Lynn said. I mentioned that we have Concerts in the Park going on around the same time period as the exhibition at Cesar Chavez Plaza and maybe the exhibition can be promoted there as well. We talked a little about the possibilities.

Lynn ended up by saying, “At Ford we really see the arts as a powerful tool to enrich people’s lives and to promote cross cultural exchange of community. Some exhibitions are more fun than others; this one you’ll see is a lot of fun. Another thing you can do is share your stories so people are encouraged to share their own stories about Latino music.”

Another person I had the pleasure to talk to was Evelyn Figueroa, Project Director of the SITES. Again, I asked about her involvement in the exhibit. She started by saying, “Today we are going to present the educational interactive website that we developed along with the exhibit and it was launched yesterday. You’ll get a taste of this key piece of the project. It talks about the content of the project and gives a lot of information in terms of the music, its history and the musicians.”

Evelyn continued to speak about the web site content, “It encourages visitors to participate. It has a section called ‘Share Your Story’ and it’s for the community to interact. It contains instructions that specifically guide the visitor through the steps to write their story and share. They can share videos, photographs or information they’re willing to share and that would be posted on the website for the public to see and learn more.”

We talked about the generational gaps of music but also talked about the commonalities. Evelyn indicated that the website will show some of the connections between the older and newer musical traditions and genres.

Discussing Latino influences Evelyn said, “Ritchie Valens was the first rock star and influenced the Beatles. People think that the Beatles had an influence on everybody but this Mexican-American from Los Angeles had a big influence on the Beatles. If you listen to the early Beatles they had Ritchie Valens rhythms.” Evelyn Figueroa was very passionate as she talked about Latino inspired music. “The new generation needs to know that and that we have been in the popular music tradition since the beginning. From the ‘tejano’ music in Texas where musicians came across the border and gathered at the small cantinas to sing and compose to today with hip-hop guys dancing in the streets, Latino music has been there.”

Besides the website a blog is available for sharing. Evelyn also pointed out that a radio station is available where the public can listen to music from a wide variety genres and different music from different time periods.

Another interesting section on their website includes a mixer Evelyn said, “We also include the ‘Sabor Mixer’ a section that can be used to compose. You can play with it and would love your feedback.” Evelyn has been very involved in the conceptualization of the website and came across as being very enthusiastic and proud of the site. She went on to note that the website will be up and running during the exhibit and well beyond it as well.

Evelyn conveyed that this exhibit is a smaller version of an exhibit prepared in 2005 by a Seattle music project. The project was a collaboration between the Experience Music Project and the University of Washington. The exhibit was downsized in order for it to become a traveling exhibit and provide a more flexible format.

I asked Evelyn about the exhibit being held at a library and how the music would fit in, she said “Latino music is extremely rich on rhythms and it’s not music that is for contemplation, it’s for listening and dancing. It’s music that moves your soul to dance and if you keep the volume too low then it doesn’t do much.”

As we spoke about the actual exhibit Evelyn indicated that an original 1960 jukebox will be part of the exhibit. The jukebox has been reprogrammed to function on a digital system. A dance floor will be created as dance is an integral part of Latino music. We talked about how music and dance are a major part of Latino celebrations starting with baptisms, quinceñeras, weddings and parties of all kinds.

“Music is simply the soul of the people,” Evelyn said as she quoted the Cuban poet José Marti, “He said ‘Music is the soul of the people.’ Music is a neutralizer, music has no boundaries it crosses borders, it crosses races and it crosses social status.”

As the luncheon started Rivkah Sass, Director, Sacramento Public Library welcomed everyone in attendance and said a few words about the exhibit. She also recognized Smithsonian, Ford and Sacramento Library representatives. Anna Cohn, Director, SITES followed and also recognized other dignitaries at the luncheon.

Ms. Cohn introduced Congresswoman and Smithsonian Regent Doris Matsui. “This is very exciting,” Matsui said as she thanked those in attendance and continued, “I want to thank the Ford Motor Company for being such a dedicated sponsor and having that special commitment. I’d also like to thank the Sacramento Public Library for hosting American Sabor. We appreciate everything you’re doing. I’d like to thank all of you for joining us today in this windy, rainy day and I just want to make an announcement that the levees are fine.” As she said this the audience laughed.

Matsui continued saying the levees were fine, nothing was broken and things were under control. “Thank goodness the system operates the way it should. The Yolo Bypass is working so I just have to say everything works and it’s reassuring.” Matsui said eliciting more laughter.

“American Sabor allows us to learn more about, and to celebrate the long lasting impact and contributions that Latinos have made to our society.” Matsui said as she talked about the exhibit. “It helps tell a story of Latinos in America through music, song and dance and in doing so tell the American story.” Matsui said.

Congresswoman Matsui has been involved as a Smithsonian Regent since 2007 and noted that it’s great to see the Smithsonian bring their resources to the community via exhibits such as American Sabor.

“I’m happy that once again the Smithsonian has chosen our community to launch another exhibit and I love the fact that we’re first, San Francisco will be jealous. Sacramento has a lot offer. I’ve always believed that one of its strengths is our diversity, and our diversity gives us strength.” said Matsui.

As the audience listened Matsui continued to talk about the exhibit. “It will showcase the accomplishments of the Latino community from important events in the arts to the strength of their culture and it is a part of our American history and I’m positive this will bring tremendous success and with your support American Sabor will help us celebrate Latino influences here in Sacramento.”

The last speaker during the luncheon was Lynn Quigley of the Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. She started off by saying, “It’s my pleasure to be here with you to celebrate Latino achievements and the influence of Latino music in American popular culture. Our partnership with SITES expands many years and we’re proud to partner with them once more on American Sabor. I’d like to thank the Sacramento Public Library for hosting the launch of this 12 city tour and for all their work planning the exhibitions.”

Lynn continued to enthusiastically thank all involved in this exhibit. “American Sabor is a project all of us at Ford are really excited about.” Lynn said and emphasized the commitment of Ford to cultural community events such as this one. A video was shown highlighting Ford’s commitment to the Hispanic community and their work with educational institutions and the many ethnic communities in our country.

Lynn ended by saying, “I’d like to share something with you that we are really proud of one of the many components of the American Sabor initiative, its website. With American Sabor we knew we had a great opportunity to reach a wide audience especially since the exhibition’s subject was music something that everyone can relate to.” Lynn went on to indicate that the website will allow participation outside of the exhibit and bring it to communities everywhere.

Ms. Quigley guided the luncheon guests the opportunity to experience some of the website features. A glimpse of the American Sabor’s personal experience through the website shows the history and influences of Latino music in the U.S. Biographies of over 80 Latino musicians from the 1930’s to present are available for exploration as are the many genres of Latino music from East L.A. Punk to Reggaetón and hip-hop.

Educational materials are also available for teachers to download and use in the classroom. A jukebox, mixer and Radio Sabor are other features available on the website. She ended by saying “I’ve saved this section for the last because I’m going to ask you a favor. This is the section of the site for stories from the public, from you. Now I’m going to ask you to tell us your personal story about Latino music. Your story can be about a great concert you saw or when you learned to dance salsa.” Lynn tried to emphasize that web interaction and sharing music stories can bring satisfaction to readers and viewers.

Although interaction is solicited Lynn went on to say that they’re very protective of email addresses and no spam would be tolerated. At this point guests were able to enjoy their lunch and talk about American Sabor and other things as they enjoyed the company and music playing over the sound system.

This exhibition will run during the summer months giving families the opportunity not only to enjoy the exhibit but also give them the opportunity to enjoy the Sacramento Public Library and all the resources it offers. As will most libraries the Sacramento Library offers community information with much material available regarding services provided and other community events.

Now you can read a book, enjoy entertainment and music at your public Library. Enjoy the exhibit and follow it to its second stop in San Francisco.

Sacramento's biggest St. Patrick's Day Party

2011-03-15T15:25:59Z

This year, de Vere’s Irish Pub and the Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) are teaming up to host Sacramento’s biggest St. Patrick’s Day event at Cesar Chavez Plaza at 10th and J streets on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Maryhouse, a daytime women’s and children’s homeless shelter at Loaves & Fishes. Maryhouse provides much-needed support and services for this vulnerable population, including the Hot Breakfast Meal Program and crisis management.

“We’re moving our annual block party to the park, but will still host a pub party at de Vere’s on St. Patrick’s Day. By moving to a larger venue, we can do more for our charity partner, Maryhouse,” said de Vere’s Irish Pub co-owner Henry de Vere White. “DSP is a natural partner for Party in the Park because of their experience producing signature events downtown and for their ongoing homeless outreach efforts downtown.”

Admission to the Party in the Park is $20 in advance online and $25 at the door. Admission to the Pub Party is $10. Tickets are for sale at SacStPats.com.

The event will feature food from local restaurants and live entertainment throughout the day, including Irish dancers and the Sacramento Firefighters Pipes and Drums band. Live musical performances begin at 2:30 p.m. and continue throughout the day with Nine 8ths Irish, Whiskey and Stitches and the Black-Eyed Dempseys. The evening will end with headliner and San Francisco U2 tribute band Zoo Station.
The Sacramento Press will be live-streaming video and photos of the event from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. See videos of interviews and performances from the bands, event representatives and organizers, the Firefighter Pipe and Drum Corps, Irish dancers and much more.

Photo stream of the event will also be available through Liveshare, a photo-streaming application available for download to your iPhone or Android smart phone. Photos will be uploaded throughout the day right here on The Sacramento Press, de Vere’s Irish Pub’s Facebook page and a special de Vere's St. Partrick’s Day Party in the Park Facebook page, created to provide the photo stream as well as updates and details on the festivities.

Interviewees for the live stream will include, but are not limited to: pub owners Henry and Simon de Vere White, Lisa Martinez of the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, a representative of Maryhouse, Vince Koll of Last Call Sacramento and the Guinness Girls and Tulamore Dew Girls.

The de Vere’s St. Patrick’s Day Party in the Park and Pub Party will end Sacramento’s week long celebration, which so far has included the Old Sacramento St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12, Shamrock’n Half Marathon on March 13 and St. Baldrick’s Day on March 14 . For tips for planning your week, hotel specials and more, visit SacStPats.com or follow us on Twitter @SacStPats.

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Blue Prynt to open at 11th and H

2011-03-05T00:30:34Z

Sacramento chef Jason Lockard is drawing up plans to entice customers to his new restaurant and bar, Blue Prynt, expected to open this month.

The 30-year-old will use social media marketing, drink specials and tie-ins to popular community events to attract clientele to a somewhat hidden spot where several restaurants have failed.

Lockard, who has been the chef at Brew It Up! for seven years, is opening his first business inside the Best Western Sutter House at 11th and H streets.

After Sofia restaurant closed in that location last September, Lockard is developing plans for events and specials to coincide with the Second Saturday Art Walk and Friday Night Concerts in the Park at nearby Cesar Chavez Plaza.

"Right now, we're kind of on the edge of everything," he said.

Second Saturday events are concentrated in Midtown. He wants to team up with Naked Lounge across the street to expand Second Saturday events to their area. Lockard is working out logistics to host a farmers market, art show, wine tastings and live music starting at 3 p.m. on second Saturdays.

The market will start small, with a few farmers' stands on a front patio and inside a small banquet room beginning in early April. He said he hopes to get the city's permission to close off the parking lot at 815 11th St. so a larger farmers market can be set up there.

He hopes to hold art show openings featuring as many as four to five artists and set up live bands to play in the evening on Second Saturdays. The Citrus Heights resident is also talking with a local farm to see if the restaurant can be a drop off/pick up spot for residents who want monthly produce deliveries.

The restaurant will offer lunch and dinner with an emphasis on quick, affordable lunches for downtown workers.

The menu of appetizers, sandwiches and entrées includes American and French dishes such as crab cake canapés, a blackened pork tenderloin sandwich, burgers, chicken cordon bleu, flat iron steak, fish and chips, and wild mushroom risotto. Prices currently range from $6.99 to $23.99.

Lockard said he will also promote banquet facilities and happy hour to draw customers to linger after work when downtown often empties.

He hopes to turn Blue Prynt into an after-hours spot to bring customers over from Friday night concerts two blocks away. A DJ or band will provide music. The bar will announce drink specials via social media and pass out fliers at Cesar Chavez Park, he said.

"Those things will snowball real quick if sent to the right people and it's a good enough deal," said Lockard, adding that he may launch Friday night specials before the Concerts in the Park begin in May.

The name, "Blue Prynt," is a nod to one of his two investors, who is an engineer. "Prynt" is spelled with a "y" so a martini glass could take the place of that letter, Lockard said.

His father, 52-year-old John Lockard of Auburn, was at the restaurant last week to help get the place up and running. The interior is undergoing some redecorating, with retextured walls, new light fixtures and new paint featuring blue accents. A small lounge area with two new flat-screen TVs has been set up near one of the two bars.

He expects to hold a soft opening within seven to 10 days, once a liquor license is approved – with a full opening March 21. Hours will be 10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:30 a.m. - midnight Fridays and Saturdays.

Lockard has worked in restaurants for half his life – starting out as a 15-year-old dishwasher at Headquarter House in Auburn. He's getting a chance to use everything he's learned to create his own establishment, he said.

"I've seen a few things that work and I've seen a few things that haven't," he said. "I think I know what people want: quality, comfort and good value."

Suzanne Hurt is a staff reporter for The Sacramento Press. Follow her on Twitter @SuzanneHurt.

Tejano Conjunto Festival

2010-09-07T07:38:12Z

The 4th Annual Tejano Conjunto Festival was once again held at Cesar Chavez Park on Sunday, September 5. The sound of the music traveled down the empty streets of downtown Sacramento. This event was a Land Arrows Productions event with Ramona Landeros, founder and CEO on hand to ensure all attendees enjoyed the event. Several food and merchandise vendors were also on hand.

Three events made up the event; the first one was a kickoff dance and party at the Sheraton Grand Hotel Ballroom on Saturday, September 4 from 8:30 to midnight. The actual festival took place on Sunday, September 5 from noon to nine. Finally, an after party was held at the Sheraton.

One of the first bands I was able to watch was the Roberto Pulido y los Clásicos group. I was there for only part of their performance but as I looked around people were dancing in front of the stage while many others danced around the fountain.

There has been some concern with those that listen to Tejano (Texan) music that there are less and less Spanish radio stations throughout California playing Tejano music. Many fans are asking for more music of this genre and as such their demand is going unmet. In order to meet some of this demand the Tejano Conjunto Festival was put together and has become popular in Sacramento.

Tejano music has many similarities to Norteño music but differences are abound. Ramona Landeros, through Land Arrows Productions has been trying to keep this type of music alive in California and other parts of the western United States. Several clubs in the larger urban centers (San Francisco, Los Angeles among others) have several clubs devoted to this music and is popular at many Latino weddings, festivals, qunceañeras and graduations. As it is part of the Mexican-American cultural tradition Land Arrows is doing what it can to preserve Tejano music in California.

One of the ways to preserve some of this heritage is by organizing events such as the Tejano Conjunto Festival. By attracting top notch acts, like Sunday’s line-up, the chances to increase listener participation will greatly inclrease. The goal to keep Tejano music playing on California radio stations and keep this music alive in California will also benefit from exposure gained via these type of festivals.

Many people brought their lawn chairs and set them up in front of the stage early in the day to secure their spot (the same was true of the beer garden). The fountain area in the middle of Cesar Chavez Plaza served as the dance floor. Reminiscent of soul line dancing, dancers moved around the fountain as they danced. Dancing went on at every point when music was played. Some were very good dancers while others, such as myself, attempted to dance without tripping on my toes. There was some line dancing as well and later a dance contest was held for prizes. A Selena singing contest was also held during the evening.

The San Jose based Niteliters and Roberto Pulido y los Clásicos performed to the delight of those sitting and listening to music as well as for those dancing. The Niteliters played for quite a while. Both bands sang songs in Spanish while others were in English. Some of the songs were mixed and this is what Tejano music is all about the mixing of languages, traditions and just making fun music to listen and to dance to.

The emcees kept things entertaining by providing humor and also by giving merchandise away for adults and children. The love of Texan music was abound and of course there was a booth selling mostly football gear. Tony Romo jerseys were popular as was other Dallas Cowboys gear. The audience seemed to be divided as to their NFL loyalty with many cheering loud when the Dallas Cowboys were mentioned, many also cheered whenever the Oakland Raiders were mentioned and a small section cheered when they heard the Houston Texans name.

Jaime y los Chamacos seemed to play the longest and when they started their set the crowd had grown quite a bit. Jaime y los Chamacos had a large ensemble of players and many different instruments were played. By the time Jaime y los Chamacos finished their first song the audience had gotten on their feet and moved closer to the stage. Those in the beer garden moved closer to the barrier separating them from the non-drinking crowd and near the stage as well. Happy music was playing and happy feet were moving to the beat. The audience was quite lively as the last band played.

When I left the festival some of the songs played that night were still going off in my mind as I made my trip back home. Even though I was going home the festival was going to continue at the after party at the Sheraton Hotel. I'm already looking forward to the 5th Annual Tejano Music Festival in 2011.

CIP Last Show of the Year

2010-08-14T20:33:41Z

The last show of the year had 3 bands playing that evening, This Luxury, Phantom Jets and the Brodys performed Friday night. I got to Cesar Chavez Plaza too late to see This Luxury. Traffic from Folsom to downtown was pretty slow today.

Thanks to Jerry Perry for putting on a great lineup week after week.

Some of the same people showed up week after week and others were there for the first time, both are included in the shot below.

(Mariana, DJ, Amanda, Brendon, Gabe, Damien)

The begining of the Concerts in the Park in May signals, to me, the beginning of summer. The last concert of the season likewise may not be the end of summer but for many it's back to shool. Thanks to everyone that makes this possible year after year.

Photos:

1 to 4 - Phantom Jets

5 to 9 - The Brodys

10 to 14 - The Fans

Concert in the Park, 7/30 Live Stream

2010-07-29T22:32:12Z

Stop by Cesar Chavez Plaza, located between Ninth and 10th and I and Jstreets for this week's Friday Night Concert in the Park! This will be one of the the last three installments of the free, all-ages outdoor concert series, which ends Aug. 13.

The music and festivities begin at 5 p.m. and run till 8 p.m., and the concert features Final Summation and Bastards of Young, and local, Irish-punk band Whiskey and Stitches will be headlining.

In its 19th year, Friday Night Concerts in the Park still attracts huge crowds from all walks of life. Interesting vendors, delicious food stands, great live music and the ever-popular beer garden make for a fun and inexpensive summer evening for the whole family.

Stop by The Sacramento Press booth and pick up a free balloon for the kids, enter a raffle, and sign up for our weekly newsletter and brand-new promotion, Deal Ticket.

We will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found here on the day of the show:
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Concerts in the Park

2010-07-25T06:55:28Z

One of my favorite Sacramento bands was on the line-up for Friday’s Concerts in the Park. Musical Charis, Prieta and Lite Brite were the headline acts for the evening. We got to Cesar Chavez Park on time (almost) to catch Musical Charis on stage. The weather, as it has been true in the past few days, was still very warm.

Musical Charis had 7 members on stage. Several instruments were being used; a bass, 2-3 guitars, 2 keyboards, drums, and several lead and backup vocals. A definition of charis indicates that it means “that which affords joy, pleasure, delight sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech”. I couldn’t think of anything in that definition that did not fit while Musical Charis played.

As they played their set of what I think were original songs, their music was soothing and also got many people in the audience dancing in front of the stage. They have a recently released cd that was on sale and for those who did not have money, I believe, could get a cd with one of their songs or they could download a free mp3 from their website. Overall their show had a great variety of sounds and their on-stage presence was very upbeat, their set was very enjoyable.

After the Musical Charis played their set it was, again, time to patronize the vendors in the beer garden. At this time it was already beginning to get crowded. Pietra started to play while we were at the beer garden. Their brand of music was a bit more on the hard rock side. Their guitar players (Mat Woods and Henry Skyler) impressively had a hard hitting sound. Vocals were provided by Alex Ayers (also at keyboards) and Brian Breneman played drums.

Prieta has been around the Sacramento area for a while. They were scheduled to play at Old Ironsides on Saturday July 24. At the Concerts in the Park they rocked the audience for quite a while and even if the weather was not so hot their music heated up the place. Their vocals and guitar playing, at times, sound like Soundgarden Sometimes I wonder if some bands, that hear others say that they sound like another band, take the observation as an insult or a compliment. My comparison is meant as a compliment. Follow Prieta on their myspace web page, if you go to one of their upcoming shows, I can assure you that they won’t disappoint.

Friday’s concert was another great Jerry Perry Downtown Sacramento Partnership production. Tonigh I noticed that some venues that take place over a certain amount of time in the same place bring new crowds to the shows. At other events such as Concerts in the Park you see some of the same faces (like mine) over and over. There were some kids walking around that I see time after time so today I decided to ask these kids a few questions. At first I thought they were like interns or something like that because they go backstage quite often. I talked to this kid named Eli who was telling me he was a musician with a band in the works and introduced his bass player, “This guy over here, he’s my bass player Dylan”. Eli was saying that they had taken the place of the Musical Charis at Thursdays Hot Lunch Concert Series and he seemed very enthusiastic as he mentioned that. It turns out that Eli is, in a sense, another Jerry Perry production. Jerry Perry is his dad.

The last act of the evening was Lite Brite. I have seen them play before and they were the band I was looking forward to seeing. I had once read they were branded as a band playing indie rock. When I’ve seen them, to me, they have a much harder sound more like hard rock or punk and at times I can hear the Robert Plant and Kurt Cobain influences in Eddie Underwood’s voice. Matt Underwood plays the drums and they’re complemented with Robert Lander’s bass playing. I’ve seen Robert working at the Starbuck’s on J Street across from the Spaghetti Factory. Seeing some band members at “regular” jobs sort of throw people off. Lite Brite's upcoming shows can be found at their myspace website.

This was one of my favorite nights of the Concerts in the Park series. On Sunday July 25 all the bands that played here will also be on hand at the Beatnik Studios with Goodness Gracious joining them for a benefit concert. Beatnik is located on 2421 17th Street.

Photos:

1 - Jerry Perry Presents Concerts in the Park

2 to 6 - Musical Charis

7 to 10 - Pietra

11 - Eli Perry (left) and Dylan (right) with friends (Megan, Nikki, Sarah and Haley)

12 to 14 - Lite Brite

See Friday Night Concert in the Park here

2010-07-22T23:58:43Z

Join The Sacramento Press for Friday Night Concert in the Park at Cesar Chavez Plaza.
Located between Ninth and 10th and I and J streets, this free, all-ages outdoor concert series will run every Friday until Aug.13.

This week’s show runs from 5-8 p.m. and will feature local headliners Lite Brite, and include sets by Prieta and Musical Chairs.

Stop by the Sac Press booth and pick up a free balloon for the kids, enter a raffle, and sign up for our weekly newsletter and brand-new promotion, Deal Ticket. We will also be live-streaming video of each band’s performance, which can be found here on the day of the show:

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Come by and check out the festivities!

CIP July 2, 2010

2010-07-03T09:32:38Z

The first Concerts in the Park venue for July included four bands for the evening. The Sea of Bees, Chelsea Wolfe, Sister Crayon and the New Humans made up the line up for the evening. This was the first time I’ve seen or heard the Sea of Bees and I don’t remember seeing their name in the line-up for Friday’s show. The four member group played a very impressive set. Some members of the audience took to the dance floor and this continued through all sets.

Chelsea Wolfe is another band I had not heard and their presence on stage was quite dramatic. Chelsea was dressed in mourning including a black veil that prevented the audience, or at least me, from getting a glimpse of her face. Their music followed suit and was different enough to instantly click in my heard. The mystery behind the veil also served a purpose, I don’t know about anybody else but I paid close attention to the lyrics trying to find hidden meanings but no obvious ones were to be found. I enjoyed their set and will probably look for more of their material.

I have seen Sister Crayon before and I’ve enjoyed their sets. Their Indie sound is full of great music that includes synthesizer sounds. The audience bobbed their head and tapped their feet in approval of the rhythmic beat. Terra Lopez, the lead singer, indicated one of their members was doing their last show with Sister Crayon but did not hear who that was.

The last act of the evening was the New Humans who’ve I’ve been fortunate enough to sit at a couple of their previous performances. By the time they started their set the audience had moved closer to the stage and soon begin to dance in front of the stage. The New Humans did not disappoint when they performed. One thing I’ve noticed is that very few of the acts perform encores. I think tonight may have been a good night for that.

Sometimes what goes on in the beer garden and other areas of Cesar Chavez Park make the whole evening that much more interesting. Tonight, Mayor Kevin Johnson walked around for a little while meeting with the audience and posing for some pictures. A group of people walked around with cardboard signs for Free Hugs. Kassandra Johnson, Jen Pearson, Amanda Massengill and Shane Gordon were here tonight to give out hugs. Abigail Jones was lucky enough to get free individual hugs as well as a group hug. A golden Human Robot performed for tips around the fountain area and I believe he’s been here before.

Another great Jerry Perry promotion with lots of great music and entertainment. Next week Izabella headlines the concert with opening performances by Walking Spanish and the Inversions.

Photos:

1-7 Sea of Bees, Chelsea Wolfe, Sister Crayon (2), New Humans (3)

8-14 Fan, Free Hugs (2), Mayor Johnson, Human Robot, Silly Dilly, Fan

Friday Night Concert at Cesar Chavez Park

2010-05-22T09:53:43Z

The weather looked quite threatening with dark clouds hovering over Cesar Chavez Park. After a short shower period the clouds began to move away from the Concerts in the Park event. Desario opened the show and they ended up being the only band that the rain dropped in on. Their indie melody music made you forget about the rain. The four member band played several songs and although this is the first time I’ve heard them play I will, for sure, follow the local band.

Con of Man was the second act on stage. Straight out of Woodland these boys brought an energetic beat and played a few songs that brought the audience closer to the front. They seemed to have quite a following. The band itself is made up of two sets of brothers. Beto Villegas played the bass while his brother Coki masterfully played the guitar. The drummer is Cassidy Garcia and his brother Rubin is the quite impressive lead singer. Other Garcia family members were in the audience. Gabe Garcia took pictures while Junior Garcia modeled an original Con of Man t-shirt.

Third billing went to Phallucy who, as promoter Jerry Perry indicates, recently got together again. This is their third reunion according to some followers of the band. I’m not sure how long they’ve been together this time but I hope they stay together and develop their hard edge sound.

As the last band was about to set up on stage the audience grew larger. I walked around and as I talked to people in the audience it was clear that the vast majority of the audience came to see Dance Gavin Dance. They did not disappoint their adoring fans. The excitement of the audience became uncontrollable for a while as they pushed their way to the stage and pushed the barriers set up to keep the audience back. Promoter extraordinaire Jerry Perry had to stop the show to ask the audience to settle down and the audience obliged for a few seconds. Dance Gavin Dance was a good closing act for the evening and they finished with a bang.
This was a wonderful show, with an impressive musical lineup, fantastic fans, and a great beginning to the weekend.

Pictures:

1. Desario

2. Jerry Perry

3-4. Con of Man

5. Con of Man Fans

6. Con of Man Junior

7. Phallacy

8-9. Dance Gavin Dance

10-12 Dance Gavin Dance Fans

Concert in the Park - See it here!

2010-05-22T00:10:42Z

Join the Sacramento Press for Concert in the Park right in the heart of downtown Sacramento.

Starting at 5 p.m.,The Sacramento Press will provide live streaming video of all the action including interviews of the local bands and footage of each bands' performance.

Concert in the Park, a free outdoor concert series, runs every Friday of the summer from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. until August 13 with headliners, The Brodys.

The series, now in its 19th season, features local artists representing a range of genres including rock, pop, punk, blues and folk.

Music addicts from of all walks of life fill up Cesar Chavez Plaza at 10th and J streets to enjoy live music, fresh air and great food.

The famous beer garden for the happy hour junkies is bigger and better than ever. Admission is FREE for this all ages show!

Dance Gavin Dance headlines tonight's event. Also playing sets are Phallucy (with Sacramento Press' own Sonny Mayugba on guitar), Con of Man and Desario.

Free live streaming by Ustream Free video chat by Ustream

Downtown walking tour offers snapshot of local music history

2010-05-13T03:11:36Z

Yes, that really did happen here.

The complaints and rumblings about music in Sacramento have been mounting for years: a perceived disconnect between the local music scene and the community, the glaring lack of consistent all-ages music venues in the downtown area and a debilitating middle child syndrome caused by big name touring acts that often pass the Capitol City over for gigs in the Bay Area.

In the face of the retrospective on local music provided by Downtown Sacramento Partnership’s newest walking tour, it becomes hard to find anything to complain about.

Entitled “Locally Grown, Internationally Known: The history of the Sacramento Music Scene,” this hour-long tour offers not only several nuggets of information on Downtown’s musical past, but a sense of where the Sacramento scene is now, and where it wants to go.

The tours run every Friday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m. The walk begins at Cesar Chavez Plaza at the corner of Ninth and J streets, travels east to 15th and J Street, then back up L Street, ending back at Cesar Chavez Plaza at approximately 5 p.m., right at the beginning of the Friday Night Concerts in the Park, a series that runs through Aug. 13. The cost for the tour is $10. As always, the concerts are free.

“Locally Grown, Internationally Known” is the latest offering in the Downtown Partnership’s stock of themed walking tours, a series that also features tours on early Sacramento history, architecture, public art, kid-friendly spots and more.

According to tour guide Shawn Peter, these specialized tours have been running for about a year and a half, ever since the Partnership decided to break up its large-scale walking tour in favor of shorter, more specifically concentrated jaunts.

“Me being a musician, I pretty much know the history (of the local scene) like the back of my hand,” Peter said. “I’ve been sneaking out and going to shows since about 1990, so that’s 20 years of history.

“Mike has been going to concerts since the late ‘60s. We thought, ‘You know, Mike would be the perfect guy to do the rock and roll tour with me,’” he added, referring to fellow tour guide Mike Becklehimer, who joins Peter in leading this newest tour.

Having been with the organization since 2000, Peter is the Downtown Partnership’s original tour guide and is credited with authoring its Early California History tour, according to the organization’s website.

“There’s so much information between the two of us, so it was like, ‘What are we going to talk about, and what would be the basis of the tour?’” said Peter, who has been game-planning this musical stroll with Becklehimer since January.

The tour embarks on J Street with some snippets about Prohibition-era Sacramento music and a bit of retrospective on topics like the KFBK Radio band, which would back up the likes of Frank Sinatra, Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington when they would roll through town.

Peter and Becklehimer will point out several spots of sonic significance that are now masked by retail facades like FedEx Kinko’s, which was once a booming music store, and McCormick & Schmick’s Restaurant in front of the Elks Lodge, which used to house the “free form rock and roll” of the KZAP 98.5 (now 98 Rock) studios.

The tour provides a heavy dose of history on acts that have come through Memorial Auditorium at 15th and J Streets, where Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards once electrocuted himself (it really should be no surprise that he survived it) in 1965 and Ted Nugent made the ceiling rain chips of plaster in 1977 with the teeth-rattling guitar riffs of “Stranglehold.”

There is even some history at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church across the street, where the Grateful Dead once played an impromptu concert in 1968 after a gig at Memorial was cancelled.

If any well-connected tape traders out there have a recording of that show or know where to get one, the folks at DSP want to hear from you.

Peter and Becklehimer also dish up plenty of info on more recent happenings as the tour moves through the corner of 15th and L, the former home of downtown’s most thriving all-age venue, Capitol Garage.

They can tell you where members of the Cramps used to live, direct you to some postage stamp-sized spots where Cake used to play, tell you about the bands that were getting weird with it at Esquire Grill and even show you some footprints made by Kurt Cobain.

It’s a tour that could easily switch gears from a local history lesson to the kind of rock and roll chat session you’d expect to have at a café table or on a barstool with your concert-going buddies. That’s how well Peter and Becklehimer know their stuff.

Using the tour as an interlude to the current happenings in the Sacramento scene, the two guides can also tell you plenty about the bands that will be tuning up their guitars and warming the amps at Cesar Chavez Plaza when the trek wraps up.

“I like to think that people who take this tour will think, ‘Wow, Sac really is a cool place, and it’s not boring,’” Peter said.

“Maybe we can get people not afraid to go to a nightclub that has a live band,” he added. “You may become that band’s next biggest fan. That’s my own personal energy that I’m trying to get across.

“Here’s some bands at Concert in the Park, and they might be playing down the street in a couple weeks - go enjoy yourself.”

For more information on this and other Downtown walking tours, visit the Downtown Partnership’s website at www.downtownsac.org or call (916) 442-8575.

"Kepiland" kicked off Concerts in the Park

2010-05-10T04:45:20Z

Friday marked the day many local musicians and fans had been waiting for: the first show of the 2010 Concerts in the Park series.

The 15-week-long summer event takes place annually at Cesar Chavez Plaza at 5 p.m. every Friday. It is free and all-ages. There are also booths complete with henna tattoos and food to purchase, and a beer garden for those 21 and up.

This year, 31 bands will take the stage. Friday, four of those bands showed the crowd what they were made of, and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. The four bands were SIMPL3JACK, Dog Party, The Kelps and Kepi Ghoulie.

Alternative punk rock band SIMPL3JACK kicked off the series by opening the show. All the age of 12, the all-male trio didn't show any hesitation running out on stage. They knew their places and knew what they were doing. The audience started supporting them right away; the cheers and whistles started halfway through the first song. Lead vocalist and guitarist Cole Apperson even ended it with a guitar riff that ended with him laying on his back. The attire was definitely thought-out and they meant business. Bassist Ryan Kendell wore a worn-out dirt bike helmet. Apperson had on a black leather jacket, complete with at least 15 pieces of "flare." SIMPL3JACK played a song called "Terrance is an Alien" toward the end of the set. Terrance is Dog Party's pet pug from which Dog Party derived its name. SIMPL3JACK left the audience craving more.

Dog Party, which has been known to the Sacramento music scene going on three years, was next in line. Fourteen- and 12-year-old sisters Gwen and Lucy Giles' vibrant-colored garage rock look matches their personalities and has a way of instantaneously captivating the crowd.

For many, it was the first time hearing the band preform, and it definitely won't be the last.

"I really like the girl's voice," Sacramento resident Heather-Lynn Curtis, 35, said, referring to Lucy. "It's very edgy."

"...And the pants...not many people can work them," said resident Erin Tan, 31, referring to Gwen's neon yellow skinny jeans.

Friday was Dog Party's second time playing the series, and the sisters couldn't ask to be part of a better lineup.

"We love Kepi," Lucy said. "We listen to him all the time, because he's, like, totally awesome."

"Total awesomeness," Gwen agreed.

Dog Party's original songs are filled with catchy lyrics and beats, but when the duo covered Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit," the audience started roaring. Many sang along, and numerous people danced. Then Dog Party was joined on stage for its last song with none other than Kepi and his band.

"It was great to have Kepi join us," Lucy said.

The Kelps followed Dog Party by performing to a park full of people. The audience was already hyped, and The Kelps just gave them more. The three members, whose genre they like to leave open for audience interpretation, did one thing that could be described without a doubt: they rocked. Tony Reyes, 19; Cory Barringer, 18 and Cameron Betts, 20, didn't hesitate to show everyone attending what their band is made of.

"(Friday) was everything we wanted and more," guitarist/singer Barringer said. "All three bands are great, and just to be able to play a show with Kepi was quite something."

Still young to the music scene, The Kelps are obviously doing something right and making their name known. This is the first year they have played the Concerts in the Park series, but if things keep going the way they are, fans will keep flocking to their shows.

As the sun was setting, the punk rock was rising. It was time for Kepi Ghoulie to take the stage.

Strutting an Iron Man mask, Kepi introduced himself as Iron Man, asking the audience over the mic, "Why aren't you at my movie?" Then he tuned his guitar.

Former member of the legendary local band Groovy Ghoulies, Kepi got back from a month-long acoustic tour in Europe on Wednesday. Kepi has played the Concert in the Park series many times in the past, but that didn't take away from the energy portrayed on stage Friday night.

"It's always fun. You play to an audience that isn't normally at your regular shows, so they get to peek into Kepiland!" Kepi said. "Plus, you get family, friends, kids and hi-jinx! Awesome!"

Kepi played a set with his band, which is a rarity, and the audience loved every moment of it. There was even a repeat of the first song, complete with three people dressed in banana costumes who took over the stage. A mosh pit crowded the front few rows of the audience.

Everyone had a good time. The weather was great, the music was entertaining and the musicians were completely supportive of one another. What a wonderful way to kick off the season-long series.

Visit the band's websites:

Photographs:

1. SIMPL3JACK

2. Dog Party

3. The Kelps

4. Kepi Ghoulie

5. SIMPL3JACK

6. Dog Party

7. The Kelps

8. Kepi Ghoulie as Iron Man

9. Kepi Ghoulie and the audience

Concerts in the Park kickoff show this Friday

2010-05-06T04:22:34Z

Friday marks the kickoff of the 2010 Concerts in the Park series at Cesar Chavez Plaza, located on 10th and J streets. Concerts in the Park is an annual free, all-ages event that runs during the summer at 5 p.m. every Friday and features local bands of various genres.

Leading off this year's series is a lineup of four bands that fall under the indie/punk/hard rock genre.

Headlining the show is none other than local legend and pop punk artist, Kepi Ghoulie. Bassist and lead vocalist of the former band, The Groovy Ghoulies, Kepi has continued his musical career and kept his fans. The full band consists of Kepi as guitar and vocals, Dino as bass and vocals, and Atom as drums and vocals. Friday's show will be an electric set for Kepi, which doesn't happen all the time.

Three-member band The Kelps has been around for just over a year and is playing its first Concert in the Park show. Residing in Lincoln, The Kelps' members are Tony Reyes, 19, on drums and percussion; guitarist/singer Cory Barringer, 18, and Cameron Betts, 20, on bass and "second howl."

They said they are extremely honored to be leading the crowd into Kepi's set.

"We're enormous Kepi Ghoulie fans," Barringer said. "There's such an aura around the local music scene regarding Kepi....He's a hometown hero."

The Kelps started out three years ago, playing their first show at a battle of the bands under the name The Captains of Spaceship Earth. They decided to change their name after figuring they'd better "grow up."

Though they usually don't like having expectations for shows, they have no doubt that this one will be good.

"Kepi's playing full electric. He usually plays acoustic," Barringer said. "This is quite something." The band members, who said they like to leave their music genre label open to interpretation by their fans, said it doesn't matter how big the crowd is; they just enjoy playing.

"We'll play to 10 people just as if we were playing to 10,000," Barringer said.

Also playing the show are two garage rock sisters who call themselves Dog Party. Gwen Giles, 14, plays guitar and back-up vocals while Lucy Giles, 12, jams out on the drums and carries the lead vocals. Gwen has been playing guitar since she was 9 years old, and Lucy has been practicing drums for about three years. Their first performance was at a school talent show.

According to their father, Sam Giles, his daughters are "excited out of their minds" about the lineup, seeing as they are "super into Kepi." The girls agree.

"We're friends with SIMPL3JACK and have played with Kepi a few times," Lucy said.

The plan is to play on stage with Kepi Ghoulie again on Friday. They will be assisting him with tambourine and back-up vocals.

When asked how they came up with the name Dog Party, the sisters said, "We have a pug, and he's kind of crazy."

SIMPL3JACK is kicking off the 2010 Concert in the Park series. The three 12-year-old members put down an alternative punk rock sound that, like Dog Party, started out with a grammar school talent show. They have been around as SIMPL3JACK for a little over a year. The band members are friends with Dog Party and have played many shows together. This will be their first show playing with both The Kelps or Kepi Ghoulie. The three members include Cole Apperson on lead vocals, Ryan Kendell on bass and Wyatt Cermak on drums.

"We're going to rock out hard," Apperson said in regards to Friday's show. "I'm way happy with Kepi."

Friday's lineup is full of true rock.

Kepi was unavailable for comment due to being on an international tour.

The 2010 Concerts in the Park Series complete lineup, according to booker and promoter Jerry Perry is:

May 7 – Kepi Ghoulie, The Kelps, Dog Party, Simpl3jack

May 14 – Rick Estrin & The Nightcats, Low Down Dirty Dogs

May 21 – Dance Gavin Dance, Phallucy, Con of Man, Desario

May 28 – Mike Farrell, Aaron King & The Imperials, One Eyed Rhyno

June 4 – Method Echo, The Nibblers, Live Manikins

June 11 – The Nickel Slots, Los Blazing Hangovers, Mae McCoy & The Neon Stars

June 18 – The Secretions, The Shruggs, The Four Eyes, The Enlows

June 25 – Mumbo Gumbo, Not An Airplane

July 2 – The New Humans, Sister Crayon, Chelsea Wolfe, (Sea Of Bees - pending)

July 9 – Izabella, Walking Spanish, Inversions

July 16 – Kate Gaffney, Gerald Pease, Autumn Sky, Juliana Zachariou

July 23 – Lite Brite, Prieta, Musical Charis

July 30 – Whiskey & Stitches, Final Summation, Bastards of Young

Aug 6 – The Golden Cadillacs, Light Rail, Johnny “Guitar” Knox and Dave Croall with The Soothers

Aug 13 – The Brodys, The Phantom Jets, This Luxury

Photographs:

1: The Kelps - Courtesy of The Kelps

2: Dog Party - Courtesy of Dog Party

3: SIMPL3JACK - Courtesy of SIMPL3JACK

I Heart Art Craft Market Thursdays at Cesar Chavez Plaza

2010-05-06T03:17:13Z

As summer approaches, so do opportunities for more outdoor events. Cesar Chavez Plaza, located on 10th and J streets, is a hot spot for these events because of its convenient location and friendly atmosphere. I Heart Art Craft Market is an event that will take place at the park from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. every Thursday from May 6 through Oct. 28. Put on by the nonprofit Downtown Sacramento Partnership, I Heart Art is an arena of opportunity for the community to come together and showcase their arts and crafts.

“We came up with the idea for I Heart Art at one of our meetings,” Downtown Sacramento Partnership Events manager Annie Stuckert said. It was a collaborative idea of our staff.”

2009 was the first year for Sacramento’s I Heart Art started. Though economically successful, there was only a total of two vendors. This year, that number has doubled.

“It’s not the biggest event, but it is growing...slowly,” Stuckert said.

Ana Apple Designs is returning from last year and specializes in everything from handmade wallets to onesies. According to its website, Ana Apple Designs is known for “quality (and) affordable upcycled goods for quirky ladies, the guys that find them adorable and their delightfully eccentric offspring.”

Providing products that are developmentally fun is Discovery Toys. The other current vendors include Donna’s Crafts and jewelry artist Christine Waligora. All proceeds go to the artists. I Heart Art is a free, all-ages, rain-or-shine event. Community members are welcome to sign up to become a vendors online anytime through Aug. 26.

According to Stuckert, The Downtown Sacramento Partnership is expecting this year to be more successful than last year's in terms of attendance and sales. There are also plans to continue to keep I Heart Art an annual event.

Visit the I Heart Art website here.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park return May 7

2010-03-30T20:52:21Z

The Downtown Sacramento Partnership (DSP) has released the 2010 schedule for the Friday Night Concerts in the Park. The free, outdoor concert series will rock Cesar Chavez Plaza (10th and J streets) every Friday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. starting May 7 though August 13.

For the latest concert news, visit www.downtownsac.org/concerts.

2010 CONCERT SCHEDULE*

May 7 - Kepi Ghoulie
The Kelps, Dog Party, Simpl3jack

May 14 - Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Low Down Dirty Dogs

May 21 - Dance Gavin Dance
Phallucy, Con of Man, Desario

May 28 - Mike Farrell
Aaron King & The Imperials, One Eyed Rhyno

June 4 - Method Echo
The Nibblers, Live Manikin

June 11 - The Nickel Slots
Los Blazing Hangovers
Mae McCoy & The Neon Stars

June 18 - Secretions
The Shruggs, The Four Eyes, The Enlows

June 25 - Mumbo Gumbo
Not An Airplane

July 2 - The New Humans
Sister Crayon, Chelsea Wolfe

July 9 - Izabella
Walking Spanish, Inversions

July 16 - Kate Gaffney
Gerald Pease, Autumn Sky, Juliana Zachariou

July 23 - Lite Brite
Prieta, Musical Charis

July 30 - Whiskey & Stitches
Final Summation, Bastards of Young

August 6 - The Golden Cadillacs
Light Rail, Johnny Guitar Knox & the Soothers

August 13 - The Brodys
The Phantom Jets, This Luxury

*Schedule is subject to change.

Produced by the DSP, the Concerts in the Park attract more than 4,500 fans every Friday night during the 15-week concert series. The event is presented by Budweiser and sponsored by Revolution Wines, CBS 13 and CW 31.

Disclosure: Article submitted by DSP Marketing Manager Jennifer Snyder

Locals join national "Stop Lou Dobbs" campaign

2009-10-22T03:28:05Z

Noon-hour visitors to Cesar Chavez Plaza were able to view more than just a farmer's market Wednesday.

They also witnessed about 20 activists and members of the media in a press conference announcing the "Stop Lou Dobbs" campaign created by the national Latino community group, www.presente.org.

The group formed as a response to anti-Latino sentiment in the media, starting with who they feel is the worst offender: CNN's Lou Dobbs. According to the group's website, www.bastadobbs.com, Dobbs uses his news program "Lou Dobbs Tonight" to spread false information about immigrants and Latinos.

Held only hours before CNN debuts a four-hour documentary called "Latino in America," the group came together to challenge what it called "CNN's hypocrisy."

"I think that CNN can't continue to present this dichotomous view of Latinos as strong people and then (have Dobbs) trash our heritage," said Rafael Aguilera of Sacramento's La Raza network.

Gathering around the statue of Cesar Chavez, several of the speakers included Sacramento's Chicano Consortium director Efren Guttierrez, CSUS ethnic studies professor Eric Vega and Sacramento's Council on American-Islamic Relations director Basim Elkarra.

"The location has always been symbolic of Chavez, a humanitarian who fought for all of us, at the center of our hearts," Guttierrez said.

"Lou Dobbs and others have been spreading hatred through the airways," he said in a speech to the small group of local media and gatherers.

A press release from www.bastadobbs.com said that out of 140 broadcast hours from Jan. 1 to July 23 of this year, 77 hours of "Lou Dobbs Tonight" included segments on immigrants. The website stated, "Dobbs helps popularize the myth that Latino immigrants flood the U.S. with disease (and) a third of our prison system is made up of illegal aliens." The website states both claims are not true.

It also said that Dobbs promoted extremist groups such as Federation for American Immigration Reform and The Minutemen on his show.

"Incitement (of hate) leads to hate crimes," Elkarra said. "Organizations like CNN have a responsibility not to support hate."

"Dobbs hides behind the first amendment, and his speech leads to an increase in attacks against Latinos," Vega said.

Local photographer Francisco Dominguez said he thinks Latinos have suffered racism since this country's inception.

"(Racism) has no business on television (posed) as news," Dominguez said. "There needs to be checks on the program, (especially when) the No. 1 victims of hate crimes are Latinos."

Rob Griffith, a local reporter from Capitol Television News Service, said that while he's never watched Lou Dobbs' show, the Stop Lou Dobbs campaign is misdirected.

"The people behind (Stop Lou Dobbs) misunderstand how the first amendment works," he said. "Efforts to silence opposition violates American freedoms."

Guttierrez explained that www.presente.org has already received 70,000 signatures on a petition to pull Dobbs off the air, but the goal is 100,000. Though Guttierrez urged Latinos and others to watch the CNN program airing tonight, Domiguez said that he was ready to boycott CNN entirely.

"CNN will understand that," he said. "It's the same thing that Chavez did with the grape growers. He was a master organizer."

Guttierrez said that he would watch "Latino in America" out of respect for the people whom the program features. He mentioned that CNN is the most trusted name in news, but added "if this is how CNN builds trust, (they) will lose it."

'End of Summer Fest' canceled

2009-09-03T21:52:50Z

Promoter Jerry Perry confirmed with The Sacramento Press Wednesday that the remaining three shows scheduled for End of Summer Fest have been canceled. According to Perry, the first two shows did not draw nearly enough people, resulting in a loss of money.

In fact, the shows were about 2000 people short for the event to even break even, Perry said. "Attendance was about half of what I call 'break even,'" he said. "[During Concerts in the Park] there were times when we had over three times as many people."

As a last ditch effort, Perry tried to relocate Friday's show featuring The Secretions to Old Ironsides, but the band declined the offer. The Secretions, a Sammie Lifetime Achievement Award-winning punk band who have been together since 1991, were to headline the show.

Secretions' fans, also known as "Secretins," can still catch the band this Saturday night when they will be premiering their music video for "Back in the Day Punk." Click here for information on the all-ages show at the Shire Road Club (5525 Auburn Blvd.), which also includes Aroarah, Flip the Switch, The Phantom Jets and DJ Rob Fatal.

"I can't continue to lose money [because] attendance is down," Perry said. He noted that the California State Fair is going on at the same time, but the State Fair has also been suffering from low weekday attendance.

Perry originally thought the low attendance on the first End of Summer Fest show was due to the show being held on a Furlough Friday. But last week's show lost money due to a low turnout as well, he explained.

"I'm surprised that even a free event wouldn't draw a crowd," he said. "I don't know what it was -- the State Fair, furloughs, hot Fridays [or if] people thought the event was over."

Perry confirmed that he will definitely continue Concerts in the Park and End of Summer Fest next year, but he plans to make some changes. Though he did not specify changes, he explained that Furlough Fridays are supposed to end by June 2010, and that may drive up attendance.

The Nickel Slots, who were scheduled to headline next week's show (Sept. 11), are still scheduled to be playing next week at Old Ironsides as part of a CD release party for their self-titled debut album. Fans can celebrate the album release and view opening bands King Cab and Golden Shoulders for $7 (click for details).

Jackpot, scheduled to headline the Sept. 18 show, currently has no shows or other upcoming performances scheduled.

The Sacramento Press was an official media partner with End of Summer Fest.

Photographs credit Sonny Mayugba. Photographs: Kai Kln headline the inaugural End of Summer Fest show.

End of Summer Fest: Method Echo to headline

2009-08-28T04:57:31Z

"I remember the first night we heard ourselves on 100.5 The Zone," said Method Echo lead singer Josh Guerrero. "It was like that movie [That Thing You Do] with The Oneders: Everybody was stoked and pumped up, we were calling each other [saying], 'Oh my goodness we're on the radio.' "

Friday night, Method Echo will be bringing its funky soulful style of rock 'n' roll to End of Summer Fest in Cesar Chavez Plaza. Pop-singing piano player Shannon Curtis and pop-rock vocalist Bobby Zoppi will open the concert (click links for MySpace).

The members of Method Echo first met more than 10 years ago at Harvest Church in Elk Grove (the pastor was guitarist Tyler Hagan's father). Then teenagers, they shared a love for the rock and gospel played at church, and it helped their music develop, Guerrero said.

Two and a half years ago, the five friends decided to form Method Echo. The name doesn't have a meaning, Guerrero explained; it was just a cool name they made up that stuck.

Hagan previously played guitar in a punk rock band while brothers David (drums) and Chris (bass) Moore draw from an R&B background. Keyboardist Daniel Herrera adds an electronic dynamic to the band while Guerrero brings his soulful and stylish pop vocals to front of the group's sound.

The band has been compared to Maroon 5 in the past, but at times its songs sound more like Michael Jackson's layered dance-pop numbers or one of John Mayer's ballads.

"We heard the Maroon 5 label, and initially at first, it was like, 'We want to be more original,'" Guerrero said. "We're not trying to bite anybody, it's just naturally who we are. [We have] rock, soul, pop, R&B and, at times, hip-hop influences as well."

After being featured on 100.5 The Zone, they were asked to open for Chris Daughtry and Lifehouse in 2008 at the Zone's Day in the Zone concert. Playing in front of a crowd of between 8,000 and 9,000 people marked a new high for the band members, as it was and is their biggest audience so far.

After drawing record label attention, the band, now unsigned, is writing as much new material as possible. Guerrero described the new material as "dancy" with a "hip hop element" to it, and he said they will decide in the next few months what to do with it.

Method Echo recently played in Cesar Chavez Plaza at the Guac and Roll festival in May, and the members said they have always wanted to play a show there on a Friday night. They are excited to debut some of their new material there this Friday, Guerrero added.

"I loved looking at Sacramento when we were playing," Guerrero said of playing in the park. "Because we're from Sacramento, seeing the buildings and the trees makes us have a little pride when we play."

End of Summer Fest takes place at Cesar Chavez Plaza on 10th and J Streets from 5 - 9 p.m. every Friday through Sept. 18.

The fun continues after the festival if you bring your beer garden wristband to The Shady Lady Saloon. Details about drink specials to follow.

Photographs credit Karl Schroeder.

Kai Kln to headline first End of Summer Fest concert

2009-08-21T04:40:53Z

"Unfortunately, I'm the idiot [who] came up with the world's worst f***ing band name," said Kai Kln drummer Neil Franklin. "It comes back to haunt me when I have to explain this name and try to pronounce it."

Kai Kln (pronounced "kai" as in "kaiser" and "klin, but ignore the vowel," Franklin said) formed in Carmichael and played its first gig in August 1989 at Southside Park. When the four-piece headlines the inaugural End of Summer Fest concert in Cesar Chavez Plaza, it will be the 20-year anniversary of the band's first performance.

Friday's concert, which is a continuation of Concerts in the Park, will also feature opening band Prieta, a 2009 Sammie award winner for best rock band. Prieta plays fast-paced rock 'n' roll, sounding like a cross between Led Zeppelin and Soundgarden.

Back in the late '80s before Scott Anderson, Neil Franklin, Sherman Loper and Gene Smith adopted it as their band name, "Kai Kln" was a character from a story Neil Franklin wrote in detention. "I had to do something in Saturday detention every week, so I started to write these stupid stories about this character I made up," he explained.

Despite having the "worst" name, in the first year that it existed, Kai Kln quickly made friends with Sacramento promoters Jerry Perry and Brian McKenna, both of whom found the band gigs. After opening for Primus, the band grew in popularity and began selling out gigs in Sacramento and all over Northern California.

By 1992, Kai Kln had already released three cassettes: Rhythm of the Strange, 1990; Hair of the Bud, 1991; and Vigoda, 1992. The songs featured punk and psychedelic rock with a grungy Seattle tint.

The band shared the stage with other big-name local acts such as Deftones, Cake and Oleander, and opened for rock legends such as Sublime, Bad Religion and Nirvana. However, at that point (June of 1991), said Franklin, "[Nirvana] were not the powerhouse they became."

In fact, Nirvana was opening for a larger band named Dinosaur Jr. The show took place at the Crest Theatre.

"Nirvana [consisted of] vegetarians, so we got to drink all their beer and eat all their food downstairs at the Crest," Franklin recalled. "That was my favorite part of playing with Nirvana."

"I still thought they had their first drummer from their Bleach album Chad Channing," he added. "It turned out to be Dave Grohl, and I was a huge fan of the punk band Scream that Grohl played with right before Nirvana. So we talked about Scream for a little while. He ran off chasing girls, and the rest is history."

But Kai Kln's successes didn't stop there. In 1992 the band became the first unsigned band to sell out the 975-seat Crest Theatre.

Lead singer Gene Smith had quit a number of times by 1993, with the other members talking him back into the band every time. But one day, "I just couldn't talk him back into it for some reason, but that's how s*** happens sometimes," Franklin explained.

The breakup lasted for two years, and then the band got back together in 1995, but it "wasn't as fun," Franklin admitted. "Everybody had kids at the time, and it took a shift: All of a sudden it just became a real job, and it's the job you think you want to have, but we got sick of each other I guess."

Kai Kln released another a album, The Matter of Things, in 1997 but played only sporadically from 1998 to 2000. Then the members didn't play any shows until 2007, when they reunited and started playing again on a tour that they named "The Grandpas of Rock Tour."

At Friday's concert, the members expect to bring back an old ritual that they haven't performed since their early years: having a drunk roadie introduce them while covered in costumes and props from thrift stores. An emcee named "Young Jimmy Telethon" will introduce the group to the crowd wearing a "wacky outfit," Franklin said.

Joining the band will also be local musicians Mike Farrell and Nicole Burdock, one of Smith's guitar students. Their set will be the band's first album Rhythm of the Strange, played front-to-back, plus a few extra songs they put on the tail end of the album for the CD re-release in 1995.

"It's the best damn gig in town," Franklin added, referring to Concerts in the Park/End of Summer Fest. "It's so much fun, there are so many people and the sound is great."

End of Summer Fest takes place at Cesar Chavez Plaza on 10th and J Streets from 5 to 9 p.m. every Friday through Sept. 18.

Photograph credits:

Photographs 1, 2 and 3 credit Ilsa Hess.

Photograph 4 credit Denise Wentzel Dunning

Photograph 5 credit Greg Savalin.

Photograph 6 credit Marc Malakie.

Concerts in the Park: Rowdy Kate to headline

2009-08-07T03:06:48Z

"Country" music means different things to different people. To Rowdy Kate lead singer Keri Carr, it means feeling at home.

She recalled that during her childhood, her father was a cowboy who rode horses and bulls and listened to country music. After her parents divorced, Carr and her mother moved away, distancing her from her father.

"I missed him a lot when I was growing up," she explained. "It feels like home to me when I sing country music."

Friday night, Rowdy Kate will bring the "back home" country spirit to Concerts in the Park. The band will headline a show that also includes Hellbound Glory and Flounder (click links for MySpace). Hellbound Glory members describe themselves as, a "scumbag country" band that "builds on the roots of honky tonk, bluegrass, rockabilly, and outlaw country." Flounder plays a diverse style of indie rock.

Keri Carr spent her youth moving around with her mother from San Francisco to Ohio, Virginia and Spain before settling in Sacramento in 1990. Her mother taught her how to sing, and was the biggest influence on her singing, Carr said.

"With my mom, I sing rancheras and boleros, and those are representative of my mom's side of the family, which I was distanced from in my upbringing as well," she explained.

Ever since her childhood days, Carr's second creative passion was always hair. She remembers as a young girl always wanting to "fix" people's hair. In 2006 she opened Honey Salon, 818 19th St., where she and her mother have been styling hair ever since. She even styles hair for local music celebrities like Jerry Perry and Kate Gaffney.

"Nick Swimly, the guitarist for the Golden Cadillacs and Hellbound Glory, has got really fun hair," she noted.

Also in 2006, she started Rowdy Kate with her husband Larry Carr, who originally played bass, but now plays drums. The two set out to play rockabilly, but the band naturally moved in a more country direction.

Lead guitarist Geoff Miller, rhythm guitarist Robert Sidwell and bassist Dave Garrity round out the band. Aside from originals that Carr and Miller write, the band covers "old school" country tunes from artists like Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Graham Parsons and Buck Owens, Carr said.

So far, the band has recorded an EP and plans to record a full-length album. The members will schedule their second tour of Europe for sometime in the next year.

A highlight of Rowdy Kate's career so far has been playing Concerts in the Park, Carr explained. "If Jerry Perry likes us, it feels like validation," she added.

The band members said they look forward to Concerts in the Park every year. This will be their third year playing the show.

"It's really different playing in a club where there's two people not even paying attention to you, as opposed to a park where there's hundreds of people all cheering for you," Carr added. "Sacramento should really support Jerry Perry extending Concerts in the Park because he's done so much for the music scene in the town."

Friday Night Concerts in the Park take place at Cesar Chavez Plaza on 10th and J streets from 5 to 9 p.m. every Friday until Aug. 14.

Don't forget that your Friday night festivities continue if you show your wristband to one of the following businesses:

Brew it Up!: $4 drafts, Bacardi, Jack Daniels and 3 Olives cocktails, plus half-price appetizers

Fuzio Universal Bistro: $3 drafts, $5 martinis, plus a selection of $3 appetizers

Marilyn's on K: $1 off well drinks, $3 draft Bud Light

Parlare Euro Lounge: $3 domestic beers, $5 wine, $4 assorted appetizers

Pyramid Alehouse: $2 pints of Curveball

Sofia on 11th: $3 drafts, $4 wines, $4 wells and and half-price appetizers

Table 260: Half off appetizer menu, 10 percent off dinner, $5 drink special on Sac Soul

Toppingz Pizza inside Image Lounge: $2.50 Bud and Bud Light, $4 Jack Daniels, appetizers starting at $1

Sheraton Grand Hotel's PMB Bar: $3.50 Bud and Bud Light (bottle or draft), $5 nachos or artichoke dip

Amourath Lounge at Hyatt: $1 off Bud, Bud Light and all appetizers

Citizen Hotel: $99/night weekend rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in a deluxe king, queen or dual-double-bedroom. This deal is exclusively for the Concerts in the Park, and for information on how to book the room, call (916) 447-2700.

Photo credit Mathew Walker

Concerts in the Park continues as "The End of Summer Fest" at Cesar Chavez Plaza every Friday night from August 21 through September 18.

Concerts in the Park: Baby Grand headlining

2009-07-23T20:42:11Z

If Baby Grand keeps their current lineup and releases an album this year, it will be a huge first for the band. It will be the first time one of their albums shares the same lineup as their current gigging band.

This Friday at Cesar Chavez Plaza, Baby Grand will bring their most solid unit ever: a six-piece playing mellow organic pop. Opening for them will be Dog Party, The Poplollys and Ricky Berger.

Dog Party is a duo consisting of 11- and 13-year-old sisters who play original songs and covers on drums and guitar. The Poplollys are a local trio who play Americana style country, while another favorite, multi-instrumentalist Ricky Berger, sings mellow folk music.

Baby Grand first formed back in 1999 by husband and wife Tim and Gerri White. Once a power-pop/punk band, their sound has been getting progressively softer.

"At the point that I joined on guitar, we sort of took the band in a different direction," said Cory Vick, who has been with the band since 2004. "We're still a pop band lyrically, but structurally it's much more acoustic-based, folk-pop kind of stuff."

Vick admitted that the band has struggled to keep a steady lineup, but he's proud that the band's current lineup is the strongest they've ever had.

Vick, who has been the guitarist for Baby Grand on their last two EPs, did not appear on their first album back in 2002. But he's excited about the new album, which consists of twelve songs, because having a steady band means being able to concentrate on recording, he said.

"[The upcoming recording] is the first time we've actually really captured what we sound like live," he added. "[By recording this] it's the first time it feels like a real band."

By bringing down the volume, and learning to use dynamics in composing music, the band has been able to feature Gerri White's soft but soulful voice. "We're not louder, but I think our sound is actually bigger," Vick said.

He's also excited about playing Concerts in the Park to reach a new audience. "It's [going to be a] mix of state workers who get off work in their office attire, your downtown street people and younger kids," he said.

The band has played shows with the other acts before, and they've become friends. "I think while all four bands are different musically, anybody who would come to this show would find something appealing in all four bands," he said.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park take place at Cesar Chavez Plaza on 10th and J streets from 5 to 9 p.m. every Friday until Aug. 14.

Don't forget that your Friday night festivities continue if you show your wristband to one of the following businesses:

Brew it Up!: $4 drafts, Bacardi, Jack Daniels and 3 Olives cocktails, plus half-price appetizers

Fuzio Universal Bistro: $3 drafts, $5 martinis, plus a selection of $3 appetizers

Marilyn's on K: $1 off well drinks, $3 draft Bud Light

Parlare Euro Lounge: $3 domestic beers, $5 wine, $4 assorted appetizers

Pyramid Alehouse: $2 pints of Curveball

Sofia on 11th: $3 drafts, $4 wines, $4 wells and and half-price appetizers

Table 260: Half off appetizer menu, 10 percent off dinner, $5 drink special on Sac Soul

Toppingz Pizza inside Image Lounge: $2.50 Bud and Bud Light, $4 Jack Daniels, appetizers starting at $1

Sheraton Grand Hotel's PMB Bar: $3.50 Bud and Bud Light (bottle or draft), $5 nachos or artichoke dip

Amourath Lounge at Hyatt: $1 off Bud, Bud Light and all appetizers

Citizen Hotel: $99/night weekend rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in a deluxe king, queen or dual-double-bedroom. This deal is exclusively for the Concerts in the Park, and for information on how to book the room, call (916) 447-2700.

*photographs credit Ted Angel

Concerts in the Park season extended five weeks

2009-07-23T05:13:53Z

The season of free Friday evening concerts in Cesar Chavez Plaza at 10th and J streets in downtown Sacramento, a summer tradition, just got a bit longer.

Promoter Jerry Perry, who has been arranging the multi-act shows, all featuring local musicians, since 1997, just got permission from the city to extend the concerts another five weeks.

And this time, Perry will be in charge of the whole event, over the five-week series. Called “End of Summer Fest,” it will begin when the current series of concerts ends on Aug. 14.

“I’ve always felt that the season ends too soon,” he said by phone Tuesday. “But I was never completely in charge before.”

The shows are generally sponsored by the Downtown Partnership, with Perry in charge of booking the acts. Other sponsors chip in, and a popular beer garden underwrites the remainder of the cost.

The new series of five concerts, which begins on Aug. 21 and runs through Sept. 18, will be sponsored by The Sacramento Press. Other sponsors will be coming on board during the next few weeks, Perry said.

Artists already signed by Perry to perform during those five weeks are artists he couldn’t book during the original 15-week season, including Jackpot, Agent Ribbons, Shannon Curtis, Mike Farrell and a reunited Kai Kln. More artists will be announced shortly.

The concerts have proven popular, but producing them is still a huge effort, and a risky one at that. Perry says that the cost of putting on the show, with beer garden, food vendors, police, fire and health department inspectors and other costs total roughly $20,000 per week.

And although the shows are free, audiences wax and wane week to week, depending on weather, competing events, the timing of holidays, Furlough Fridays, and even last year’s wildfires, which led headliner Mumbo Gumbo to cancel.

This year, says Perry, “We got rained out one day and rained on two days. If it’s too cold, you don’t sell enough beer, if it’s too hot, people don’t come out. Last week was our lowest beer garden in a few years, I don’t know why. We got hit harder with the heat than anything. When it’s 105 degrees, people don’t want to come down to the park.”

Still, Perry says, being more in charge, while daunting, is allowing him to make a few changes he’s been wanting to make. One is to create a separate food court with tables, accessible only to those who buy food and want to sit down to eat it. He also says that problems with the beer lines have been eliminated.

With the enthusiastic support of the city – Perry says Tuesday’s approval of permits came in a mere seven minutes – the new End of Summer Fest seems likely to continue a tradition that is one of downtown Sacramento’s most popular.

But that doesn’t stop him from worrying.

“I think about the days getting shorter, is that going to affect turnout?” he says. “But I want to take it further, see where we can go with this. It is one of the things that defines downtown Sacramento in summer.”

Concerts in the Park: The Snobs headline

2009-07-16T04:25:12Z

Leading a band is like managing a kitchen, according to Jason Boggs. As both executive chef of The Shady Lady and lead singer of The Snobs, Boggs is qualified to make the analogy.

"A lot of the same stuff that goes on in a kitchen goes on in a band on tour: drinking, bad tempers and egos to worry about," Boggs said. "You're trying to make a group of guys work together and most of the time they're misfits not [fit] for regular society."

In order for the "misfits" to form a cohesive band, The Snobs created rules. Boggs, who played saxophone for local ska/reggae band Filibuster, was banned from playing saxophone.

"It was the other guys in the band protecting themselves from me [playing reggae]," he said of the ban. "But it's worked out great, and the sound has transformed."

Now, after picking up the saxophone again for The Snobs, Boggs also plays the instrument for the more jazz-oriented band Syncro, who played Concerts in the Park June 12.

Boggs will play saxophone and sing this Friday when The Snobs headline the show. Opening are The No Goodniks, Phantom Jets and The Cockfight Kings, all rock 'n' roll bands. (Click links for MySpace)

The Cockfight Kings have a more rockabilly-influenced set, while the Phantom Jets play surf and garage-inspired rock. "Girlie female vocals" give the The No Goodniks a fun pop punk sound, says Laura Winn of the Examiner.

"It's a blast," Boggs says of Concerts in the Park. "It's about the community, and playing on a badass sound system with a whole lot of people watching you."

Back in 2002, The Snobs formed as a straightforward Rock and Roll band. Upbeats, guitar scratches, and reggae of any kind were banned.

For nearly two years, Boggs sang, but never picked up the sax.

This lasted all the way up through the band's first album, Stepping Large, Laughing Easy, 2004. After constantly being bombarded by questions of "where is the horn?", he picked it up again.

"Being in a rock/punk band, it sets us apart because it's unusual to have a horn," he said. "It adds a dimension - the horn is like a bridge, [allowing] all ages to like our music."

The Snobs are currently recording their second full-length album at Track Shack in Sacramento. Because it's being produced by Jeff Tamelier (Huey Lewis, Eddie Money), it has more of a 1980s sound.

For the album, due in September, the band rerecorded two songs from the first album. They've also updated them, adding saxophone.

Friday Night Concerts in the Park take place at Cesar Chavez Plaza on 10th and J Streets from 5-9 p.m. every Friday until August 14.

Don't forget that your Friday night festivities continue if you show your wristband to one of the following businesses:

Brew it Up!: $4 drafts, Bacardi, Jack Daniels and 3 Olives cocktails, plus half-price appetizers

Fuzio Universal Bistro: $3 drafts, $5 martinis, plus a selection of $3 appetizers

Marilyn's on K: $1 off well drinks, $3 draft Bud Light

Parlare Euro Lounge: $3 domestic beers, $5 wine, $4 assorted appetizers

Pyramid Alehouse: $2 pints of Curveball

Sofia on 11th: $3 drafts, $4 wines, $4 wells and half-price appetizers

Table 260: Half off appetizer menu, 10 percent off dinner, $5 drink special on Sac Soul

Toppingz Pizza inside Image Lounge: $2.50 Bud and Bud Light, $4 Jack Daniels, appetizers starting at $1

Sheraton Grand Hotel's PMB Bar: $3.50 Bud and Bud Light (bottle or draft), $5 nachos or artichoke dip

Amourath Lounge at Hyatt: $1 off Bud, Bud Light and all appetizers

Citizen Hotel: $99/night weekend rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in a deluxe king, queen or dual-double-bed room. This deal is exclusively for the Concerts in the Park, and for information on how to book the room, call 916-447-2700.

Photo is credit Marc Kallweit

Concerts in the Park: Mumbo Gumbo

2009-06-26T01:50:12Z

When thinking of Mumbo Gumbo's gig this Friday, the word "regulars" comes to mind. This year marks the 16th year in a row the band will play at Concerts in the Park.

As the name suggests, the New-Orleans-flavored septet blends many genres to create its sound. From soul to Zydeco and from ballad to boogie, the band has covered the gamut in its nearly 20-year history, during which the members have produced eight albums.

They have been a big part of the Northern California concert scene. Many of the band members have even formed successful side projects over the years.

Guitar player Jon Wood, sax player Reggy Marks and bass player Lynn Michael Palmer recently formed The Nibblers. The seven-piece funk/soul band has been playing clubs around town and will open for Mumbo Gumbo on Friday.

Drummer Rick Lotter is part of Capitol Jazz Project, and lead singer Chris Webster has a solo career - well, had a solo career.

That was until a little over a year ago, when a paralyzed vocal cord forced her to stop singing. Luckily the band had another great singer, Tracy Walton.

"We were in a strange time," Palmer said. "We floundered around, not quite sure when and if she would come back."

Eventually the band decided it would be silly to stop playing, and members discovered they could be strong even without Webster. Walton fronted the band, alone, for a year. But after that year had passed, Webster had healed. She is back for every gig now, and this will be her return to Cesar Chavez.

"She's singing as well as she ever did," Palmer said. "This spring has been an exciting time for us."

On Friday, the band will be playing a lot of songs from its latest album, a compilation called "Fun Pack." It's filled with danceable, "party-flavored" tunes, said former keyboardist Bill Fairfield, who now helps the band with booking.

Fairfield's keyboard work is featured on much of the album, which includes tunes spanning the band's 19-year career. The album also includes three new originals and a re-recorded song.

"Businesspeople, families - a whole cross section of the Sacramento community seems to be out there," said Fairfield of Concerts in the Park. "We look forward to that show because it's always a great vibe."

Added Palmer: "I'm just excited about this season coming up and getting to play with the full band again."

Friday Night Concerts in the Park take place at Cesar Chavez Plaza on 10th and J Streets from 5-9 p.m. every Friday until August 14.

Don't forget that your Friday night festivities continue if you show your wristband to one of the following businesses:

Brew it Up! $4 drafts, Bacardi, Jack Daniels and 3 Olives cocktails, plus half-price appetizers

Fuzio Universal Bistro $3 drafts, $5 martinis, plus a selection of $3 appetizers

Marilyn's on K $1 off well drinks, $3 draft Bud Light

Parlare Euro Lounge $3 domestic beers, $5 wine, $4 assorted appetizers

Pyramid Alehouse $2 pints of Curveball

Sofia on 11th $3 drafts, $4 wines, $4 wells and and half-price appetizers

Table 260 Half off appetizer menu, 10 percent off dinner, $5 drink special on Sac Soul

Toppingz Pizza inside Image Lounge $2.50 Bud and Bud Light, $4 Jack Daniels, appetizers starting at $1

Sheraton Grand Hotel's PMB Bar $3.50 Bud and Bud Light (bottle or draft), $5 nachos or artichoke dip

Amourath Lounge at Hyatt $1 off Bud, Bud Light and all appetizers

Citizen Hotel $99/night weekend rate for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in a deluxe king, queen or dual-double-bed room. This deal is exclusively for the Concerts in the Park, and for information on how to book the room, call 916-447-2700.